08 arrested for collecting debris from X-PRESS PEARL: Police

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police on Wednesday (May 26) arrested EIGHT (08) people for collecting debris from the burning MV X-PRESS PEARL that had washed ashore, in violation of the quarantine laws. "The video footage had shown that people collecting items discarded from the ship. They had violated quarantine rules and regulations since the restriction order was implemented yesterday (26). Accordingly, a number of people had violated the quarantine rules and regulations," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Thursday (May 27). According to DIG Ajith Rohana, a special operation was launched on Wednesday (May 26) by SSP Negombo and his team to conduct investigations with regard to the incidents reported from the beaches of Pamunugama, Dungalpitiya, Kochchikade, and Negombo Police areas. During the operation, two people were arrested by Dungalpitiya Police and a lorry was also seized; the duo had transported the collected items from the debris by the lorry, DIG Ajith Rohana said. Moreover, three people were arrested by the Pamunugama Police and another three were arrested by Kochchikade Police in connection with the same offense. "The items discarded from the ship that was collected by the people are harmful to the human body; therefore, if a person had collected such items, he/she had committed an offense under the Penal Code," the Deputy Police Chief emphasized. The suspects will be produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court on Thursday (May 27). Investigations will continue to trace all the suspects who committed such offenses on Wednesday (May 26), in the beaches of Pamunugama, Dungalpitiya, Kochchikade, and Negombo Police areas, DIG Ajith Rohana further added.