Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Medical and Civil Rights Trade Union Alliance, urged the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to immediately halt the burning of the coal until a formal environmental assessment is conducted. He warned that continued use could cause extensive damage to land, water sources, and marine ecosystems, putting over 200,000 nearby residents at risk.
“This destruction could be eighty times greater than the X-Press Pearl disaster,” Dr. Sanjeewa said, stressing the need for proactive measures rather than post-disaster calculations. He also criticized local environmental groups for their silence and questioned the transparency of government-appointed committees tasked with investigating the issue.
Social activist Achala Divaka highlighted alleged irregularities in the coal procurement process since August, suggesting that doubts about coal quality could pose serious public health and environmental risks. Divaka said the government’s assurances that the coal is safe do not fully address these concerns.
The situation has sparked calls for stricter oversight and immediate action to prevent what experts describe as a looming environmental crisis.
