News
The system change will not work for environmental conservation without first changing human attitudes
The environmental devastation caused to Sri Lanka’s seabed and coastal ecosystem as a result of the X-Press Pearl disaster is incalculable.
The wreck of the feeder vessel now lies partially submerged off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to the available information, there are still around 46 different chemical containers aboard the gutted ship and they are believed to be highly toxic to flora, fauna, human beings and the environment as a whole. The contents of some of these containers have already leaked into sea water poisoning marine life. The only visible pollutants now are plastic pellets.
So far, the carcasses of 220 turtles, 20 dolphins and seven whales have been found in the coastal areas. The number of carcasses of marine life may increase with the speed of leakages of the chemical containers. Unfortunately, only up to 10% of carcasses are swept to the sea shore by waves. The direct impact here was largely on reptiles and mammals rather than fish.
Mammals and reptiles play a key role both as predators and as well as prey in the seawater ecosystem. Chemicals directly affect plants and plankton and may cause to reduce the oxygen level in the seabed.
Plastic takes between 500 to 1,000 years to decompose. This means that the tons of plastic pellets that remain will continue to cause harm to the ecosystem for anything up to one thousand years. Marine species face the threat of eating these pellets and dying due to damage caused to their digestive system.
Some rare and threatened marine species may become extinct. Corals may have already died, and there is a need for research to conserve corals that may have survived. Acidic rains are also to be expected under the circumstances.
As a result of nitric acid, sodium dioxide, copper and lead in sea water, the toll on marine life will be heavy with small fish dying quickly due to poisoning. The affected seabed and its environs will remain dangerous for fauna and humans for many more years to come.
In such a distressing situation, how can we protect the marine ecosystem and its diversity? Environmental impacts of the X-Press Pearl disaster indicate that it may take millions of years to recover and restore Sri Lanka’s ecosystem.
In addition, we can identify deforestation as a continuing disaster to our natural environment in many forms. Recent causes for deforestation can be identified as agriculture, human settlements and infrastructure development projects.
Deforestation primarily affect the oxygen level of the atmosphere. When we look back at the past few years, floods and droughts were big environmental problems that the country had to grapple with at substantial cost.
Wildlife extinction and habitat loss also impact negatively on the whole ecosystem and biodiversity of the country. Endemic and threatened species are vulnerable in such a situation.
Though reforestation is not the only option, it is a globally effective and long-lasting solution to save the earth. Tree planting programs are also not the only solution in this context. What the government authorities must do is to conserve the existing forest cover, enhance forest patches for planting.
On a daily basis, we hear of environmental conservation and strident calls to address contentious issues and assurances that it will be done. I always look into these burning issues on a different level with focus on changing human attitudes. Without first changing attitudes, I believe the system change will not work for environmental conservation.
Whether it was the X-Press Pearl disaster or deforestation, the key role revolves around humans. All government leaders as well as the people must be given the personal responsibility of protecting the environment, conserving biodiversity and saving the earth.
A change of human attitude will make this world a better place to live in.
– Sujeewa Kumari (LLB, MA, MEM),
Attorney-at-law, Secretary, Wildreach Trust.
It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68
She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.
The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.
In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.
Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.
I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.
I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his
legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.
This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.
In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:
1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;
2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;
3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and
4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.
This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.
I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.
The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.
A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.
The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.
The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.
Dharmaraja and Kingswood set for historic rugby clash on Saturday
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