Horana rubber factory incident: Factory license temporarily suspended

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Central Environment Authority (CEA) has decided to temporarily suspend the license of the rubber factory in Horana where five people died of ammonia gas poisoning. A director of the CEA , Ajith Weerasundara, speaking to News 1st said the decision will be in effect until investigations into the industrial accident are concluded. Last evening (April 19), an employee at a rubber factory in Ballapitiya, Horana died after falling into an ammonia tank. Four others who rushed to rescue him also died from ammonia gas poisoning. All victims were residents of Ballapitiya, Horana. The bodies of the victims were placed at the Horana Hospital, and they were moved to the Panadura General Hospital to seek specialist medical assistance. As of last evening (April 19), 38 people had been admitted to the Horana Base Hospital following the industrial accident. Nineteen people who fell unconscious from the incident are being treated at the Horana Base Hospital. Hospital Superintendent, Thamara Kalubowila, said two of them are being treated in the ICU and one is in serious condition. The manager of the rubber factory who was arrested, was remanded until April 25th after he was produced before Acting Horana Magistrate, Kanthi Kannangara. The

CEA is to submit a report on the incident to the Department of Labour

.