NARA-led teams to assess damage by MV X-PRESS PEARL

COLOMBO (News 1st): Five teams are conducting studies to determine the level of damage caused to the coastal belt of Sri Lanka as a result of the MV X-PRESS PEARL, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said. The investigation teams led by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) includes university Professors and officials from a number of fields, including the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), Dr. Turney Pradeep Kumara, the General Manager of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) told News 1st on Friday (May 28). "If favourable weather conditions persist, the NARA-led team would visit the relevant sea areas today via the 'Samudhrika Ship', to collect water samples and samples of marine life to ascertain the marine pollution in the Sri Lankan waters and prepare the Damage Assessment Report," Dr. Palitha Kithsiri, the Director-General at the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency told News 1st. According to Dr. Kithsiri, the required samples were already collected covering the coastal belt from Colombo to Chilaw.