They opened a 'Free Trade Zone' in Avissawella a few decades back. The people of the area were told that this was an 'environment-friendly' project. The years gone by have blackened all the roofs and the chemical contaminated water is polluting the Kelani Ganga at Weralupitiya. I took this picture a few days back. You can see the black smoke emitted by the chimneys in the 'Free Trade Zone' early in the morn ing on what should have been a beautiful dawn.
I am reminded of a song that we sang in our twenties:-
'Once there were green fields kissed by the sun,
Once there were valleys where rivers used to run..
...'
'...Green fields are gone now. parched by the sun,
Gone with the valley, where rivers used to run...'
