CEA Reveals Homagama Factory Lost Environmental License Renewal

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Central Environmental Authority states that the environmental license for the safety helmet manufacturing factory in Katuwana, Homagama, which was destroyed in a fire that claimed five lives, has not been renewed.

Its Director General, Kapila Rajapaksa, mentioned that the management had failed to submit reports on the practices followed to establish a safe environment at the factory, including the fire safety action plan in order to renew the environmental license granted in 2023.

Because of this, the Director General stated that they were informed via a letter on the 2nd that the environmental license would not be renewed, and that to re-acquire it, the relevant documents must be submitted to the Central Environmental Authority within 20 days.

As soon as the factory fire was reported, the area's environmental officer and a team were dispatched to look into it.

This was to investigate whether any hazardous chemicals were released from the fire into the surrounding environment.

The Director General stated that instructions will also be provided for the proper disposal of the chemical substances remaining after the fire.

He also stated that this is being closely monitored.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem examinations of the five individuals who died in the factory fire are scheduled to be conducted today.

The magistrate's inquiry was conducted yesterday afternoon by the Homagama Magistrate.

The fire broke out at around 9:30 a.m. yesterday on the third floor of a three-story factory.

Police stated that a short circuit in a fan is suspected to have caused the fire.

The fire was brought under control using fire units from the Colombo, Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia, and Kotte Municipal Councils, along with more than 10 fire service vehicles from the Horana Urban Council.

Assistance for this was also provided by the Air Force, the Army, and the Police.

At that time, over 80 employees were on duty at the factory.

Police stated that further comprehensive investigations regarding the fire are underway.