By Chamil Rupasinghe  

The postmortem examinations of 14 turtles and the dolphins that died allegedly due to the marine pollution caused by the fire in the Express Pearl ship commenced yesterday in the Veterinary Science Faculty and the Animal Science Department of the Peradeniya University.  

The team of researchers includes three Italian scientists.  

They expect to exchange knowledge on holding postmortem examinations of turtles, whales and other aquatic creatures.  

Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority Dharshani Lahandapura said several whales, turtles, and dolphins had died in the wake of the fire in the Express Pearl ship and that the ongoing postmortem examinations would precisely establish the cause of death. She said specimens of carcasses had been collected from the beaches in several areas of the country and preserved for tests.