Dairy company asked to pay Rs. 30 million for EIA: Environment Minister denies Agriculture Minister’s claim

by Ifham Nizam

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday that representatives of dairy companies operating in Sri Lanka had confirmed that neither the Ministry of Environment nor the Central Environmental Authority had asked any of them for Rs. 30 million to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA).

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage last week alleged that the Ministry of Environment and the CEA had asked for Rs. 30 million to submit an EIA report for the construction of a dairy farm in Nawalapitiya.

Amaraweera said all relevant institutions had been summoned to the CEA on Friday to inquire into the matter.

“This allegation is a serious blow to the reputation of the Ministry of Environment and the CEA,” the Minister said, stressing that he would take stern action if it could be proved and the culprit named.

“A dairy farm encompassing some 860 acres in the Nawalapitiya area is to be set up, and the Environment Ministry has instructed the Central Environmental Authority to submit the EIA reports for development projects within a short period of time, without any delay,” the Minister said.

CEA Chairman, Siripala Amarasinghe, said that investors were free to select institutions to prepare EIAs.

Minister Amaraweera told company representatives to inform him whether any official had requested money for preparing the EIA at issue.