Clean up operations continue off Muthurajawela coast

Colombo (News1st) - The Marine Environment Protection Authority together with the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard are continuing cleanup operations in the coastal area off Uswetakeyyawa following Saturday's (Sept 8th) Oil Spill. The Marine Environment Protection Authority has requested the fishing community to refrain from moving to the coastal belt from Uswetakeyyawa to Pamunugama, Ja-Ela , until the oil is removed from the sea. A team of experts has already visited the site to assess the impact caused to marine resources and the environment by the oil spill. A leak was reported in the pipeline carrying fuel from the Muturajawela Buoy to Kolonnawa on Saturday morning. The Marine Environment Protection Authority says as a result around 10 Tonnes of oil had spilled into the sea. The leak reportedly occurred when furnace oil was being unloaded from a UAE flagged Tanker. The CPC commenced repairs on the pipeline on Saturday afternoon and stressed this had not disrupted the distribution process. CPC said a proposal has been made to the Government to place a new pipeline for the unloading of fuel.