Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Tuesday, 31 March 2026 05:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has directed officials to immediately prepare an environmentally sustainable plan to dispose of ash generated by the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant.
The directive was issued at a meeting held in Parliament on 17 March under the chairmanship of MP Hector Appuhamy.
Officials informed the Committee that the volume of ash generated during power generation has increased due to issues related to the quality of imported coal. The Committee noted that improper disposal could pose environmental risks and instructed that a plan be formulated under the leadership of the Puttalam District Secretary.
The Committee also proposed examining the reuse of ash for production purposes, with any revenue generated to be channelled towards welfare programs benefitting communities affected by the power plant.
The Central Environmental Authority was directed to submit a comprehensive report on whether operations at the plant have resulted in air or water pollution.
In addition, the North Western Provincial Environmental Authority has been requested to respond within two weeks to matters raised by the Committee, including a questionnaire relating to environmental compliance at the facility.
Officials from the provincial authority stated that although ash volumes have increased, the plant’s filtration systems are adequate to capture emissions.
Environmental licencing and compliance issues relating to the Norochcholai plant were also taken up during the meeting, which was attended by several MPs.
