Weliweriya water tests to be released today

by Carol Aloysius

The results of the controversial drinking water in Weliweriya, the samples of which are currently being analysed at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) laboratory, will be released today, the latest, Director ITI, Dr. Sirimal Premakumara told the Sunday Observer.

He said that water samples had been collected from the site, around the site and the peripheries of the alleged toxic water, and were currently being analysed at the ITI laboratory.

“Although our emergency mobile lab was set up at Weliweriya on Friday, the results could not be released since the mobile laboratory can carry out only a limited number of tests. These were not sufficient to rule out all evidence of toxicity.

Hence the samples are being submitted to further tests at our main ITI laboratory. The results were due to be released yesterday evening or today, the latest,” he said, in a telephone interview with the Sunday Observer, yesterday.

Allegations by residents of Weliweriya of drinking water contaminated by toxic waste material from a factory in the vicinity, led to a massive demonstration by the villagers on Thursday.

The protests against the failure of the authorities to resolve their water crisis, resulted in 28 persons being injured and one killed when the police called in the Army to help control the restive crowd.a Following this tense situation, the ITI sent a team of researchers to set up an emergency mobile laboratory to test the water in the area and bring samples of the water for further testing at the ITI laboratory. ”We are testing all drinking water quality parameters so as to ensure there is no toxicity in the water.

Our team is aware that this is an emergency situation and is working on their off day today to release the results by this evening or tomorrow morning”, Dr Premakumara said.