Over 1,000 tonnes of debris removed from coastline following X-Press Pearl incident

The Marine Environment Protection Authority of Sri Lanka (MEPA), supported by Sri Lanka’s tri-forces, has to date collected over 1,000 tonnes of debris from the ongoing beach cleanup in an effort to save Sri Lanka’s pristine coastline from the MV X-Press Pearl incident.

The cleanup operation coordinated by the MEPA, stretching close to 200 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s North Western to South coastline, has cleaned up over 1,000 tons of debris securely stored in 44 containers, including plastic nurdles stored in a hazardous waste facility, MEPA said issuing a press release.

The Chairperson of MEPA, Attorney-at-law Dharshani Lahandapura said that on the instructions of State Minister Urban Development, Cost Conservation, Waste Disposal, and Community Cleanliness MP Nalaka Godahewa, a detailed three-stage approach which includes an accelerated clean-up, environmentally responsible disposal and restoration, as well as claims and damages, is being formulated by the relevant government authorities. 

Elaborating further, she detailed that a team of local and foreign experts and officials had conducted assessments of the heavily impacted areas and considered it for a future course of action.

The Chairperson of MEPA further said her organization is also working closely with the Central Environment Authority (CEA) on the disposal of the nurdles and debris that has been collected thus far.

“The implications from this disaster have been manifold. But at the same time, we need to ensure that the disposal of this waste is completed responsibly in an environmentally friendly manner. We may also collaborate with private companies to dispose of waste ecologically and responsibly” said the Chairman of the CEA, S. Amarasinghe.