X-PRESS PEARL: NO significant impact on Sri Lanka's air quality

COLOMBO (News 1st): It has been revealed that the quality of the atmosphere in Sri Lanka was NOT affected due to the MV X-PRESS PEARL blaze, based on studies conducted by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) in the past few weeks. The international experts who arrived in the country to assess the damage of the MV X-PRESS PEARL disaster were also informed in this regard yesterday (21), Senior Scientist Sarath Premasiri, the Coordinator-Air Quality, Noise, and Vibrations at the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) told News 1st on Tuesday (Jun. 22). "We saw black smoke emitting from the ship's blaze and thereafter, we conducted studies to determine the impact of these emissions on the nearby areas. It was observed that based on the wind patterns, the emissions moved towards the country, and studies were conducted in areas such as Ja-Ela. However, there were no significant changes in the quality of air," Senior Scientist Sarath Premasiri elaborated on the studies. According to Senior Scientist Sarath Premasiri, as a result of the wind patterns at that time, the emissions from the MV X-PRESS PEARL blaze had moved around 100 metres above the atmosphere. Therefore, the rate of air pollution was minimum, Senior Scientist Sarath Premasiri at the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) pointed out.