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Environmentalists teaming up to file legal action against X-Press Pearl

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By Ifham Nizam and Norman Palihawadane

Environmentalists are teaming up to file legal action against the ill-fated vessel MV X-PRESS PEARL, stressing that the damage is huge and elsewhere authorities had taken action against the ship’s Captain and the crew.

A similar incident had taken place in Indonesia this week and authorities took action against the ship crew, environmental activist Nayanaka Ranwella said.

Ranwella said that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority should release documents with regard to the contents of the vessel without further delay.

“These documents are said to be with the Ports Authority,” he said.

“I believe that the authorities should initiate an investigation after collecting details from the Black Box of the ship,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigations Department yesterday appointed a 10-member team to investigate the ship fire.

The investigation is being conducted by three Chief Inspectors and an Assistant Superintendent on the instructions of the Director and the DIG of the Criminal Investigations Department.

Last week, the Director-General of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) filed a complaint with the Harbour Police over the environmental destruction caused by the fire onboard the vessel.

Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said the Colombo Harbour Police had presented facts to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and on the orders of the court, samples had been sent to the Government Analyst.

DIG Rohana also said that they were in the process of seeking Interpol assistance against the ship.

The CID was in the process of recording statements from the Captain and Chief Engineer of the vessel.

In addition, a separate investigation has go underway against the people who violated the quarantine rules by leaving their residences in Pamuuugama, Kochchikade, Negombo, and Dungalpitiya police areas to collect debris from the blazing container ship.

The affected seafront is known for its crabs and jumbo prawns. It is also a popular tourist beach.

“This is probably the worst beach pollution in our history,” said Dharshani Lahandapura, head of Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment and Protection Authority (MEPA).

Hundreds of military and security personnel in hazmat suits are cleaning the beaches of plastic waste and other debris from the ship, which caught fire on May 20.

The impact of the debris has had on mangroves, lagoons and marine wildlife in the region is being assessed.

The jobs of thousands of fishermen are at risk, according to authorities, and the MEPA said a possible oil leak would only add to the devastation.

Much of the ship’s cargo, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, lubricants and other chemicals, had apparently been destroyed by the fire, officials said.



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Landslide early warnings issued to Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunagala, Matara and Rathnapura districts

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The Natural Hazards Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization has issued land slide early warnings to the districts of  Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunagala, Matara and Rathnapura.

Accordingly,
Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Dehiowita, Kegalle, Mawanella and Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district and Kuruwita, Eheliyagoda and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

Level I landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Welimada and Haldumulla in the Badulla district, Elpitiya in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Yatinuwara and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Warakapola and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Kotapola, Akuressa and Pasgoda in the Matara district and Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kalawana, Openayake, Kiriella, Kahawattta and Godakawela in the Ratnapura district.

 

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Public Security Ministry Secy transfers CI probing his alleged failure to prevent terror attacks – Gammanpila

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Easter Sunday Carnage:

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, retired SDIG Ravi Seneviratne, had transferred a senior police officer who was conducting a probe into his alleged failure to act on an intelligence warning to prevent the Easter Sunday carnage (2019), former MP Udaya Gammanpila, said yesterday.

Addressing a media conference, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Gammanpila said former DIG Palitha Siriwardena had complained to the then IGP C. D. Wickramaratne that the Easter Sunday attacks had resulted from the dereliction of duty on the part of SDIG Seneviratne, and called for legal action against him (Seneviratne).

IGP Wickramaratne had assigned Chief Inspector (CI) Induka de Silva to investigate the complaint against Seneviratne, Gammanpila added.

Gammanpila said: “In March 2022, Seneviratne submitted a petition seeking a court order to prevent the CID from arresting him. In his statement, he claimed that on 10 Feb. 2022, he had become aware that Chief Inspector Lalitha Dissanayake had filed a ‘B’ report, alleging that ‘serious omissions by Seneviratne and former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekara had led to the Easter Sunday attacks’. Seneviratne claimed that respondents were attempting to falsely implicate him by initiating a biased, unlawful, and unreasonable investigation, based on an anonymous petition that accused him of neglecting his duties in respect of investigations into the National Thowheed Jama’ath.”

Regardless of the ongoing investigation and legal issue, the JVP/NPP government had appointed Seneviratne the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, said Gammanpila. “CI Induka de Silva continued his investigation and Seneviratne transferred him to the police HQ,” Gammanpila said, noting that Seneviratne was now in a position to suppress the probe against him.

Gammanpila challenged Minister Vijitha Herath to a debate on national security and public debt.

Our attempts to contact Seneviratne for comment yesterday were in vain as he did not answer his telephone.

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Vaccination drive underway to tackle re-emergence of measles in some districts

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By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Ministry of Health has launched a special measles vaccination programme in selected districts in response to the recent increase of cases of the disease.

Senior Epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Hasitha Tissera, announced that the programme will be conducted in 12 districts across the country until 09 Nov.

Although Sri Lanka successfully eliminated measles, cases were reported in certain areas last year, according to Dr. Tissera.

This programme specifically targets young people who, for various reasons, had not received the full dose of the measles vaccine, he said.

Sri Lanka ha made remarkable progress in controlling measles over the past two decades, Dr. Tissera added. “However, when the measles virus re-emerges in certain communities, it’s critical to take immediate action.”

Earlier this year, the Health Ministry said there had been over 700 cases of measles in the country in 2023.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine was added to Sri Lanka’s immunisation programme in 1984. A second dose was added in 2001 to strengthen immunity levels, and in 2019, the World Health Organization declared Sri Lanka measles-free.

However, a global drop in immunisation coverage between 2020 and 2022 impacted many countries in the region, contributing to a resurgence of measles cases, including in Sri Lanka, UNICEF reported earlier this year.

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