‘Chemical dispersants to dilute oil slicks’

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Marine Environment Pollution Authority(MEPA) chairman R S Ariyapperuma yesterday said they are spraying chemical dispersants on oil slicks that have seeped from the sunken Cyprus flagged ship Thermopylae. .

Ariyapperuma said the chemical dispersants will dilute the surface oil concentrations. “The process is expected to prevent oil from moving into sensitive marine environments, thus limiting the damage to coastal habitats and marine life,” he said.

Several tonnes of oil have already leaked from the ship with several slicks having hit the beaches of Ratmalana and Negombo.

The ship had 70 tonnes of furnace oil on board when it sank within a range of six to eight nautical miles off Panadura shores on Friday. It had been anchored there for over five years despite the danger it posed to Sri Lanka’s Coast.

The prolonged anchorage has been due to a pending court case, according to MEPA.

Ariyapperuma said several trawlers have been deployed to remove oil concentrations on the surface.

Sri Lanka Navy , Coast Guards and MEPA are making a co-ordinated effort to reduce the potential damage.

Asked whether MEPA has called the attention of the vessel owner regarding the oil spillage, Ariyapperuma said, they are taking legal action against them.

Asked about the marine pollution damages caused by the oil spillage, he said they are in the process of assessing the impact of the incident. “First of all we must reduce the damage,”he said.

As pointed out by environmentalists, MEPA has become wise only after the incident.

According to Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation Secretary General Dr Hiran Jayawadena, Sri Lanka can claim damages from the ship owner as in all other cases involving oil spillage situations across the world.