No link between Hikkaduwa oil slick and Iranian vessel Says Min. of Environment

COLOMBO (News 1st) -A revelation confirming there is no connection between the oil slicks detected along the Narigama coast in Hikkaduwa and the Iranian vessel involved in the recent maritime incident, has surfaced. 

Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi said that the barrel believed to have contained the oil has also been located.

According to the Minister, the oil slick has been identified as lubricating oil, and the barrel in question does not belong to the Iranian vessel.

He added that Coast Guard teams and the Marine Environmental Protection Authority are conducting an investigation into the incident.

This includes collecting and analyzing samples from the oil slick.

The Minister further noted that the oil slick has spread over a distance of approximately 40 meters along the coastline.

However, authorities have not yet confirmed which vessel the oil originated from.