The Marine Pollution Prevention Authority (MPPA) said that immediate tests carried out on sea-water samples from areas in Galle where black patches appeared indicate that it is not caused by an oil spill.

MPPA Chairman R.S. Ariyaperuma told Daily Mirror Online they suspect the black patches which appeared yesterday are a result of the surfacing of a microscopic marine organism such as planktons.

“A similar sighting of black patches was reported about a month ago along the beach stretch from Galle–Mirissa. This could be a recurring sight caused by the surfacing of these organisms,” he said adding that further investigations are being carried out. (Lakna Paranamanna)