COLOMBO, May 30 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, yesterday made an inspection visit to the coastal area in Uswetakeiyawa, on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo, which is affected by debris, washed up from the fire-ravaged container ship X-Press Pearl.
During the inspection visit, the prime minister issued directives to officials to expedite the provision of relief to fishermen affected by the situation, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Further, the prime minister also instructed the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), to take all necessary measures to protect the marine environment.
An official from the Sri Lanka Navy said, teams from the Navy are still on site to put out the fire, which is now confined to the stern area of the vessel.
The official said heavy smoke is still emanating from the vessel and an explosion from the vessel was reported early yesterday morning.
The vessel is registered under the Singapore flag and was carrying 1,486 containers, with 25 tonnes of Nitric Acid and several other chemicals and cosmetics, from the port of Hazira, India, on May 15.
The vessel sent out a distress call while being close to the Colombo Port on May 20, and caught fire soon after that. The Sri Lankan Navy immediately dispatched vessels to bring the fire under control.
Sri Lanka’s MEPA said, a major environmental disaster was expected, following the burning of the vessel and the impact was being assessed.
General Manager of MEPA, Terney Pradeep, said, the coastal line from the south, along the west coast, had debris washed ashore and the public had been strongly advised not to touch any of the debris as it could contain hazardous material.
State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation, Nalaka Godahewa, told media, a large amount of marine life had been killed, as a result of pollution from the ship.
He said that fish, turtles and other marine life had been killed, and more such loss of life was expected over the next few days.
The Sri Lankan government decided to pay a certain amount of compensation for the fishing community, which has to suspend fishing activities, and those who are involved in related industries.– NNN-XINHUA
