An agreement was reached to establish a gunpowder factory in 25 acre plot of land in the site where Deyata Kirula 2012 had been held at Oyamaduwa in Anuradhapura during a meeting presided by North Central Province (NCP) Chief Minister S.M.Ranjith Samarakoon today (16).

There had been disagreement between some politicians and residents of the area over the issue of constructing a gunpowder factory at the former Deyata Kirula site. Chief Minister of the NCP had continuously been explaining to the people that the establishment of the factory would cause no harm to the environment as feared by some and would increase the number of employment opportunities.

Accordingly a meeting had been held at the NCP auditorium with the participation of people who held protests, members of Maha Sangha including Chief Incumbent of the Tanthirimale Raja Maha Vihara Ven Tanthirimale Chandrarathana Nayaka thera, religious leaders and Chairman of the Nuwaragam Palatha Central Pradeshiya Sabha P.B.N. Jayasundera.

The Chief Minister addressing the meeting said that the ministries of Defence and Environment had given their permission to set up the gunpowder factory. The proposed factory would no way harm the environment or the lives of animals. “Had there been such a threat, I would have been the first to oppose to the setting up of the factory,” he said.