19th January 2016 03:10:53 Hours
A group of 31 Army personnel including an officer on being informed of the diesel seepage into the Nilwala river, contaminating drinking water resources at the invitation of state authorities visited affected areas and arrested its further spread in several areas in the flowing waters on Monday (18).
Those troops after stacking gunny bags of sand around oil patches on water blocked its further passage since the oil pollution could affect thousands who are using Nilwala water for drinking and other purposes.
Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Force Headquarters -West (SFHQ-West) together with General Officer Commanding, 58 Division and Brigade Commander, 581 Brigade personally visited affected locations and instructed accordingly before it swells into a major disaster. The visiting Commander, SFHQ-West also attended a specially convened meeting of state authorities including Divisional Secretary, representatives from CEA, CPC, WS & DB and PHIs, held to assess the impact of the oil leak and remedial measures.
