Protest against setting up of cement factory in highly populated area near BIA
… school alleges deception What began quietly as a single-storey tourist hotel, on the edge of Katunayake-Seeduwa has, five years later, morphed into a looming five-storey cement factory and with it, a storm of fear, anger and unanswered questions. At a media briefing held on 19 September at St. Thomas International School, Seeduwa, the community […]
A community gathered at St. Thomas International School in Seeduwa to voice their concerns about a cement factory planned for a densely populated area near the Bandaranaike International Airport. The meeting, led by clergy members and environmental advocates, expressed strong opposition to the project, asserting it is not against development but against deceptive practices.
They alleged that the government approved a low-impact tourist hotel on the site, which later transformed into a heavy industrial factory. The community questioned the lack of proper environmental assessment, arguing that the fine particles from the factory could drift into classrooms and homes, potentially causing respiratory illnesses among children and chronic breathing disorders among workers.
Concerns were raised about the factory's proximity to the airport, where experts fear a decline in air quality could negatively impact highly sensitive aircraft engines. The Muthurajawela wetlands and Negombo Lagoon, vital ecosystems, are also at risk, as cement dust could degrade water quality and disrupt fish breeding grounds.
The panel demanded that the project be relocated to a safer location where it would not cause environmental harm, emphasizing that investment should be done responsibly. The community urged the President, government, and state institutions to heed their call for change.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
