UPDATE: Several authorities examine the clinical waste found on the Puttalam shore

Colombo (News1st) - News 1st reported on Monday (Aug. 13th) how Indian clinical waste had washed up on the Puttalam shore. Clinical waste could be seen on a 10km stretch of the oast from Udappuwa to Thoduwawa. The Marine Environment Protection Authority and several other institutions inspected the location on Tuesday (Aug 14th). Vaccines, various Syrups, and pills and other clinical waste, as well as medical containers, could be seen among the waste. A group of officials of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Council also arrived at the location and inspected the garbage for radioactive material. They concluded the preliminary inspections and said that there was no radioactive material at the location. The officials of the Marine Environment Protection Authority segregated the garbage this afternoon (August 14). Speaking to the media the Puttalam Officer of the Marine Environment Protection Authority Priyanga Samarasekara said they were able to segregate the garbage as plastic bottles, cosmetic items as well as clinical waste from India China and Netherland. Samarasekara added that they will carry out this research till Manpuriya in Kalpitiya and will dispose of the garbage in a proper manner. The Marine Environment Protection Authority says the clinical waste could have been washed up from Kerala in India which is experiencing heavy flooding. However, a question arises, how it is that a majority of the garbage that arrived on the shores of Puttlam is clinical waste? Was it dumped in the sea purposely, by an organized group? A senior official at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka speaking to News 1st said they are concerned about the situation surrounding the clinical waste in the North Western Coast. He added that they will check with the relevent authorities in India, as to whether this incident of clinical waste reaching the Puttalam shore has any connection with the recent flooding in the South Indian State of Kerala.