The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has directed three ministries to devise a mechanism to prevent the pollution of Kelani River.

Accordingly, Environment Ministry, Water Supply Ministry and Public Services, Provincial Council & Local Government Ministry have been assigned to devise the relevant mechanism.

The instructions to take immediate action in this regard came as the Kelani River is directly linked to several pressing matters in the country including the drinking water issue, tourism and urban development.

Environmental Audit Report on water pollution of the Kelani River was brought before the recent COPE meeting chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath.

During the meeting, it was revealed that 41 out of 2,946 factories located within the vicinity of Kelani river are unauthorized establishments and the environmental protection licences of 205 factories are suspended.