Emergency measures were taken by deploying the army to prevent chemical contamination of the water distributed to Colombo and Gampaha.

Water supply has been temporarily suspended in several areas of Colombo and Gampaha districts due to a risk of disruption to the water quality at the water intake points for the water treatment plants located in Ambatale and on the right bank of the Kelani River. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board states that this situation has arisen due to some chemical substance released into the environment by a private factory.

It was reported that the chemicals from this factory were toxic, and a special operation was carried out last night involving the tri-forces to prevent them from mixing with drinking water. Mr. Chandana Bandara, Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, stated that the water supply was suddenly disconnected as a precautionary measure until it is definitively confirmed whether waste has mixed with the river water. According to the notification received from the Disaster Management Center, the water supply from the Ambatale treatment plant and the water treatment plant located on the right bank of the Kelani River has been temporarily halted.

The Disaster Management Center and security forces have jointly launched a comprehensive investigation into this incident. In addition, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has also lodged a complaint with the police, and steps have been taken to inform the relevant responsible institutions to initiate legal action in this regard in the future.

The Water Supply Board states that it will provide updated information regarding the restoration of the suspended water supply in the future and expresses its regret for the inconvenience faced by consumers due to this emergency environmental situation.