Govt. to focus attention on marine pollution

Disna MUDALIGE

The government has focused its attention to take proactive measures to minimize marine pollution caused by shipping activities, in line with the changing trends in the country's development drive, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

The minister was addressing the inauguration of a workshop held on Tuesday at the Central Bank Training Centre on "Marine Pollution and OPRC Convention and OPRC HNS Protocol," conducted by international experts Hakan Ozturk, Joseph Gerad Small and Ahmad Hakim Bin Salleh and International Maritime Organization representatives who arrived in Sri Lanka. It was organized by the Marine Environment Protection Authority.

The minister observed that further action in keeping with internationally recognized measures, need to be implemented to prevent marine pollution from the shipping sector.

The minister noted that the number of ships calling in our ports would increase in the coming years as a result of the development projects undertaken by the government in the shipping and port sector. The minister observed that one of the government's major objectives was to transform Sri Lanka into a maritime hub of South Asia by making the best use of its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The minister noted that the government was presently engaged in developing the Hambantota Port as a service port, while carryingout the Colombo South Harbour Expansion Project. He added that Trincomalee, the world's second best natural harbour, was also going in for a major development.

He said that the result would be the increase in shipping activities in Sri Lankan waters. "A higher rate of activity and increased vessel traffic means a greater likelihood of major accidents and oil spills in our waters.

Such spills could cause severe harm to many aspects of our unique ecosystems. Our coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves and fisheries would be at risk. A major spill would pose a serious threat to our valuable tourism and fishing industries and other maritime industries as well."

He said that Sri Lanka had a great obligations to abide by the laws of the sea and other international conventions and protocols, adding that the MEPA had a greater responsibility to protect the maritime environment. He requested stakeholders of ports and shipping sector to extend their fullest support to preserve the marine environment, since it would support sustainable development.