X-Press Pearl Disaster More harmful biotoxins found around Dikowita and Sarakkuwa seas

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

Almost a year after the X-Press Pearl Disaster off the Sri Lankan sea, harmful biotoxins were found around Dikowita and Sarakkuwa seas, Sri Jayawardenepura University Animal Science Department Senior Professor Pathmalal M.Manage said.   

“Oil and grease were also found around the ship, along with heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper, and nickel found in these samples. Those heavy metals were found in sea snails, shrimp, sardines, and herrings in amounts exceeding the level approved for human consumption, and the amount of lead found in shrimp was 4.23 μg g-l.   

“In Perna virides (green mussels), this chemical was found at a very high level, 68.5 + 0.9 mg kg1 + 7.1 ng kg1. This chemical was found in very high amounts in shellfish, shrimp, sardines, and herring. Even in small amounts, this chemical is harmful. The environmental pollution caused by the ship’s sinking has adverse consequences for the neighbouring fishing communities through their fish consumption,” professor Pathmalal said.   

Meanwhile, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) said on Tuesday that if the Sri Lankan government did not take legal action within 45 days for the X-Press Pearl Disaster, Sri Lanka might not receive compensation.   

CEJ Senior Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage told the media that a new research report finds heavy pollution in the marine environment around the Xpress Pearl Shipwreck.   
“The CEJ believes that under Sri Lankan law, the case to claim compensation has to be filed within two years of the incident, that is, before May 29, 2023. Now we have only 45 days remaining,” he said.   

The accident involving the X-Press Pearl, which arrived near the port of Colombo on May 19, 2021, exploded on May 25 and sank nine nautical miles off Sri Lankan waters on June 2, claiming that the tragedy was the world’s largest marine chemical accident.   

“There were 1,486 containers in the vessel. 81 of them contained extremely harmful chemicals for the environment, and 349 contained epoxy resin. Also, there were 6700 metric tons of various plastic pellets and various substances, including nitric acid. They were burning for several days, causing marine pollution along the sea area in Negombo, in the 750 km sea area around Sri Lanka, in other states located in the Indian Ocean, and in the sea and coastal resources as far as Somalia. Despite several containers remaining visible and the sea around the Sarakkuwa area being covered with plastic pellets, more than 90% of the total shipment was hidden underwater. Of the 80,000 metric tons of goods, only 1762 metric tons of goods have been recovered,” Withanage said.   

“If immediate action is not taken within the relevant time frame, Sri Lanka might lose their claim for the estimated 10 billion USD compensation for this incident. That would be a catastrophic failure on the part of the Attorney General’s Department and the Cabinet,” scientist Hemantha Withanage said.   

• “There were 1,486 containers in the vessel. 81 of them contained extremely harmful chemicals for the environment’’