Why is Fijjy going to be awarded?
By Duminda Alahakoon – CENS
– Environmentalist Raveendra Kariyawasam.
It’s shame to see why Jiffy company is going to be golden awarded as the best exporter in 2015” said environmentalist Raveendra Kariyawasam at the press conference was convened by Centre for environmental and nature studies (CENS) yesterday at the National library, with participation of environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara, Ven.Wekandawala Rahula Thero and Mr. Machanayake (Integrated People’s movement to protect Deduru Oya).
In further revealing he said, there are many causes affect on Deduru Oya degradation. Among them, the most terrible issue is that what Jiffy has done already and as it’s been established edged to the river where in Kengamuwa GN division of Kobeigane Divisional Secretariat, consequently the river and its surroundings are being killed and affected on all kinds of beings. This multinational Norwegian company claims 42 branches across the world, which based on processing of coir dust to be exported to mainly Norway and other European countries. They have been using abundantly huge amount of Nitrates with water for many years to process coir dust, exceeding its standard limit and then discharge polluted water into the river. It has caused to kill the ecology of river affected on beings who consume river water for their daily life.
On complain this case, CEA once has probed and issued a report that says ”River has been polluted and its speed of running electricity through water, been down. Therefore a risk emerges of disappearing varities of planktons and species of fishes in the river as its Oxygen percentage does not function properly. Moreover it records that company has failed to reveal that how much stored Nitrates in posses of industry.
But this company has been awarded in three times since 2012 as the best exporter in which festival, organized by the National Chambers of Exporters of Sri Lanka – NCE, is again going to be awarded in 4th time continually in this year too. It’s has already taken steps for the awarding ceremony to be organized with participation of the chief guest, present minister of environment President Maithreepala Sirisena.
Environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara – Environment Conservation Trust
This Company has based upon producing coir dust to be exported. Coir dust naturally consists of Sodium and Potasium and mixed up with huge amounts of Calsium Nitrates to remove Sodium and Potasium. After that they discharge contaminated water into the river, where humans mostly associate with, in their daily consumption of water. Besides, micro parts of coir dust mixing up with the air, cause to affect on humans respiration illnesses. Seemingly, it’s going to be another Rathupaswala.
This is a BOI approved company established in 2008 under the Environment Protection License. The problem is how they got such a license. On evidences we have, they have dealt with Environmental Authority of North Western Province which is a one of most corrupted institutes in Sri Lanka. It’s not legally gazette institute though issued such license with the approval of CEA.
Accordingly it’s crystal clear that this company is on going well violating environmental acts and BOI acts. But the problem we have is, how does this company claim to legitimacy to be awarded as the best exporter? We have been complaining about this since 2013, and expect on further complaining more, if it’s not stopped.
Ven. Wekandawala Rahula Thero – CENS
A water stream means a home for all beings. Water is essential for everybody. Jiffy kills the life of water. Not only that but other companies also have taken chances, our country to be used as their waste land. We have a unique culture which is bonded with water. But companies want to attack on it. Our rulers are fulfilling their contracts. So our responsibility is to act to protect the nature and beings.
Mr. Manchanayake – Integrated People’s Movement to protect the Deduru Oya
Why we formed our movement is to against not only to Jiffy but also to illegal sand miners who depend on the river.
Deduru Oya is the heart of North Western Province. A majority of people consumes a large amount of water from this river for their daily life. But since few years, we saw how the ecology of river being changed. People got infections on their skin after bathing.
Jiffy pumps around 800,000 L per day to process coir dust. We observed this and perceived that company directly affects on this damage. After that we complained this to DS office, Health Medical officer in the area, Police, GN, Local Council and North Western Environmental Authority. But none came into actions against them.
Not only Jiffy, there are more like these companies around here, which are a one of them melts 23000KG Lead per day while other based on Iron products, affect heavily on environmental pollution in the area. Those too have been offered license by North Western Environmental Authority.
Mr. Daya Neththasinghe – Journalist
We have already discovered about this company through the media. But none has taken any action so far. Now the minister of environment is the President Maithreepala Sirisena is easily able to order to probe regarding this degradation.
Jiffy first came to India and turned towards to Sri Lanka as they were rejected in India. They firmed their business associated in coconut triangle where based in Kobeigane. They are aware neither human’s health nor any beings in environment. They focus only on the profit and money. Currently they are using 800000L amount of water per day. This is an immense damage on environment. Therefore everybody must voice against to them