The protest of the people living in ‘Rathupaswala’ area was they get contaminated drinking water with harmful substances as result of draining of harmful chemicals from a factory named ‘Winigrows’ to the environment. This had affected people living in the vicinity villages also. There had been clashes between the STF, Police and the residents where tear gas, rubber bullets and water had to be used to disperse the protestors. During the clashes one youngster 22 years old had died while 41 had been admitted for treatment to the hospitals in the area. Among them had been members attached to the security forces.
The body of the 22year old dead person is kept at the Gampaha hospital while the injured are been treated at the Gampaha, Wathupitiwela, Udupilla, Ragama and the Colombo National hospitals. During the clashes the Officer in Charge of the Weliveriya Police station and 10 members of army personnel had been injured.
The security of the area has been taken over by the Police and the armed forces. Until the drinking water problem is resolved the ‘Winigrows’ factory would be remained closed.
