MEPA Reports Surge in Plastic Debris Washing Ashore Linked to Sunken MSC Elsa 3

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) says there has been a significant increase in plastic debris washing ashore along Sri Lanka's coastline over the past two days.

MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekara said it is suspected that another container carrying plastic nurdles from the sunken MSC Elsa 3 cargo vessel has burst open.

The Liberia-flagged MSC Elsa 3 sank in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala on May 25 last year following flooding and water leaks in its compartments.

MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekara said more than 43 container-loads of plastic nurdles that washed ashore have been collected so far.

He added that the shipping company has been informed about the latest wave of plastic nurdles and other debris reaching Sri Lanka's coastline.