News

International expert warns Lanka not to take harm caused by X-Press Pearl lightly

Published

4 years ago

2021/11/17

By Ifham Nizam

Sri Lanka should not take the marine environment damage caused by the Singapore flagged X-Press Pearl disaster lightly, Dr. Theresa Karlsson, science and Technical Adviser of IPEN International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) says.

Karlson has said that despite the measures already adopted by the Lankan authorities to clean up the beaches, a lot more has to be done to reverse the damage created.

Dr. Karlsson, responding to queries directed, during a webinar, told The Island that despite strict measures by the Hong Kong government during a similar incident, the negative effects of the accident were felt even six years after the event. During the X-press Pearl disaster 1,680 tonnes of chemicals were released into the ocean; this is more than 10-fold the chemicals released during the disaster in Hong Kong.

The “X-Press Pearl disaster could get more complicated,” she warned.

Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Executive Director Dilena Pathragoda said studies on the disaster were being done by the Sri Jayewardenepura University

Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairman Dharshani Lahandapura told journalists a committee appointed to estimate the full extent of damage by the container vessel is expected to present its interim report on 30 November.

Lahandapura said the 40-member expert committee was headed by a Senior Professor of Environmental Economics. She said the operators of the vessel, X-Press Feeders had awarded the tender to clear the debris on the seabed to Resolve Marine Salvage Company. It has been tentatively found some 338 pieces of debris possibly linked to the ship, scattered on the seabed.

The vessel which was carrying hazardous cargo, caught fire off the coast of Colombo in May this year.

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Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum

Published

59 mins ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.

This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.

The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.

News

Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

9 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.