Representatives of the Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa yesterday (25) met former President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremeisnghe to explore ways and means of forging a common front against the NPP government.

Responding to queries, sources said that Mahajana Handa had initiated talks with Opposition parties, and groups, following the Mahanayakes advice that a common stand be taken in dealing with major issues.

Former ministers Prof. G.L. Peiris, Udaya Gammanpila and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa represented the Mahajana Handa while Thalatha Atukorale and Sagala Rathnayake joined on behalf of the UNP. Following the advice received from the Mahanayake, about a month ago, Mahajana Handa met SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, and leader of the SLPP parliamentary group Namal Rajapaksa.

The highly anticipated CEO of the Year 2025 Awards Ceremony will be held on 26 February 2026, from 6:00 pm onwards, at the prestigious Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing together an exceptional gathering of national and international dignitaries, corporate leaders, and policymakers.

Organised by the Global CEO Forum, the ceremony recognises distinguished business leaders who have demonstrated outstanding strategic vision, innovation, resilience, and sustained contribution to Sri Lanka’s economic progress. A select number of accomplished corporate heads will be crowned as CEO of the Year 2025, following a rigorous evaluation process based on leadership excellence, organisational performance, governance standards, and industry impact.

The evening will be graced by key Ministers and senior public servants of the Government, alongside High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and members of the diplomatic community. The presence of these eminent guests underscores the national importance of recognising corporate leadership as a driving force behind economic stability and growth.

Prominent business leaders from diverse sectors are expected to attend, making the ceremony one of the most significant corporate gatherings of the year. The event aims not only to celebrate individual excellence but also to inspire a new generation of business leadership committed to ethical governance, innovation, and sustainable development.

The CEO of the Year Awards has evolved into a respected national platform that highlights leadership excellence while fostering meaningful engagement between the public and private sectors.

As Sri Lanka continues its journey towards economic resilience and global competitiveness, the ceremony will stand as a powerful reminder that visionary leadership remains central to national progress.

Nearly five years after the catastrophic sinking of the X-Press Pearl, off Sri Lanka’s western coast, the environmental scars remain visible — from contaminated beaches to disrupted fisheries. Now, that tragedy has become a rallying point for an international coalition of scientists, demanding urgent reforms to global maritime law.

A group of leading researchers and environmental experts is calling on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to formally recognise plastic pellets — commonly known as nurdles — as hazardous to the marine environment. They argue that existing international shipping regulations fail to adequately address the environmental devastation caused by pellet spills.

Their appeal comes through a newly accepted scientific commentary, published in Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, consolidating decades of research on the impacts of plastic pellet pollution.

Plastic pellets are small, lentil-sized (2–5 mm) particles made from virgin or recycled plastic and used to manufacture a vast range of plastic

products. Scientists say that spills occur frequently during handling and transport, both on land and at sea. Once released into the ocean, pellets persist for decades, spreading across vast distances and entering marine food chains.

Dr. Jennifer Lavers, who studies pollutants in seabirds, warned that the scale of plastic ingestion has reached crisis levels.

“Today the volumes of plastic pellets entering the marine environment are enough to ‘feed’ millions of young seabirds,” she said. “In some areas we are seeing nearly a 100% rate of plastic ingestion, with pellets being particularly problematic.”

Beyond physical harm such as digestive blockages in wildlife, pellets also pose chemical threats. According to Dr. Sinja Rist of DTU Aqua, they are far from inert materials.

“Pellets are persistent, widely dispersed, readily ingested by wildlife, and capable of transporting hazardous chemicals,” she explained, noting that they can absorb and release toxic substances across oceans.

Sri Lanka’s experience with the X-Press Pearl disaster, in 2021, highlighted these dangers on an unprecedented scale. The burning container ship released vast quantities of chemicals and billions of plastic pellets into the sea, causing widespread marine contamination and severe economic losses to coastal communities.

Hemantha Withanage, Chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Justice in Sri Lanka, said the disaster exposed major gaps in international maritime regulation.

“After studying the aftermath of the X-Press Pearl disaster, it is impossible to argue that plastic pellets are harmless cargo,” Withanage stressed. “The impacts in Sri Lanka were immediate, widespread, and long-lasting. Stronger international regulation is essential to prevent this from happening again.”

Under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the intentional discharge of plastics is banned. However, scientists argue that current rules are inadequate when it comes to preventing or responding to accidental spills, especially those involving container ships.

The researchers are urging the IMO to assign plastic pellets a specific United Nations classification number. Such recognition would formally acknowledge their environmental hazard potential and trigger stricter requirements for packaging, labelling, and emergency notification during shipping.

Dr. Therese Karlsson, lead author of the commentary and Science Advisor for the IPEN, said the scientific case is clear.

“There are decades of studies highlighting threats from plastic pellets released into the oceans, including risks to marine animals and the food chain,” she said. “Plastics contain thousands of chemicals, many known to cause harm to the environment and human health. It is past time for global regulations to protect our oceans.”

The European Union has recently introduced measures aimed at preventing pellet losses throughout the supply chain, and in 2021 the IMO committed to addressing pellet pollution as part of broader efforts to reduce marine plastic litter. Yet experts warn that without binding global action, pellet spills will continue.

For Sri Lanka, still recovering from one of the worst maritime environmental disasters in its history, the international call carries particular urgency.

Scientists say the message from the island nation’s experience is unmistakable: plastic pellets must no longer be treated as ordinary cargo, but as hazardous materials demanding strict global oversight.

By Ifham Nizam