Test underway to determine sludge in Trinco Beach

by Staff Writer 14-04-2023 | 5:20 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities are yet to confirm the nature of the substance that washed up on the shores of Trincomalee in the Sea of Sri Lanka since Wednesday (12).

The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency and the Marine Environment Protection Authority launched separate investigations.

A tar-like sludge washed up on the shores of Trincomalee in the Sea of Sri Lanka on the 12th of April, and it was experienced along the coast from Uppaveli to Nialveli.

On Thursday (13) a team from the Marine Environment Protection Authority visited the area for inspections and obtained samples for testing.

Environmental groups suspect the sludge may have been disposed of into the Sea of Sri Lanka by a South Korean flagged LNG tanker named SOYO that was anchored off the Trincomalee Harbour.

However, MEPA said that there was no fact to claim that the sludge was disposed of from the said LNG tanker.

Personnel from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) visited the site to collect more samples for testing.

Shyamali Weerasekara, the Principal Scientist at the Environmental Studies Division of NARA said that once samples are obtained, the tests will be conducted expeditiously.

Personnel from the Marine Environment Protection Authority or MEPA visited the site for an inspection once again on Friday (14).

The fisheries industry along Sri Lanka's eastern coast was affected by this situation.