Rathupaswala factory to be dismantled
The management of the rubber glove manufacturing ‘Venigros’ factory situated in Rathupaswala area notified the appeals court yesterday(31) that the factory will be removed from the area. This was notified upon summoning a petition filed against that factory.
The petition had been filed accusing the factory of polluting the ground water in the locality. The presidents’ counsel Harsha Cabraal, appearing on behalf on the factory notified the court that no more production will be carried out until the factory is removed.
Accordingly, the relevant factory was removed from the petition, while the petition against the Sri Lanka Board of Investment and the Central Environmental Authority, who are the other respondents, will be summoned again on the 7th of January.
In August last year, the people in and around Rathupaswala launched a massive protest against this factory. According to government reports, two people were killed when the army attacked the protestors. Although according to the ‘Sunday Times’ newspaper, the number of killed stands at 6.