Audio: Ship off Panadura sinking

23 August 2012 12:34 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A ship carrying 20 to 30 tonnes of fuel and anchored in the sea off Panadura for the past four years because of legal disputes appears to be almost fully under water, Merchant Shipping Director General Ajith Senaviratne said.

SS ‘Thermopylae Sierra’ was owned by a Greek Shipping Line. It was anchored off Panadura on a Colombo High Court order. The fuel poses an environmental threat to the Colombo coastline.

“Most of the fuel was removed. But because the vessel was submerged in the sea, it was difficult to extract the remaining fuel,” he said adding that no maintenance had been carried out.
“The ship had begun to sink because its hull and deck were perishing. This was caused by the lack of maintenance,” he said.

Disaster Management officials said they had already secured the Kalutara, Gampaha, Colombo coastal belt up to Puttlam against a possible fuel leak. Officials said all ground level operations were being carried out and would be a coordinated by the three forces. (Nishan Casseem) (Pix by M.S. Perera)

AUDIO

Audio-(ISA)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 14

Lobo Thursday, 23 August 2012 12:55 PM

Typically, the authorities knew for a while the ship would sink but took no action. Now this oil is going to pollute our beaches and kill off some marine life but as usual no one is responsible and no one to blame.

Bonnie Mallie Thursday, 23 August 2012 12:40 PM

errr...3 to 4 years it was there and now action is being taken !! Well...isn't that how Sri Lanka is managed these days - Only reactions - never proactive

RamUK Thursday, 23 August 2012 12:49 PM

Anchored for past 4 years..port authority must be sleeping inside over this period

Anuradha Wijerathne Thursday, 23 August 2012 01:01 PM

please take necessary steps to protect the biodiversity of the costal area.

Nero Thursday, 23 August 2012 01:02 PM

Join the club. Sri Lanka is with you.

leon jayatunge Thursday, 23 August 2012 03:17 PM

Anyway everything is in a disaster

mahasona Thursday, 23 August 2012 03:44 PM

It is toolate now to save the nature.The burocratic idiocrazy of environmantal authority has to take the full responsibility for the disaster.They knew what was going to happen for last 3 years!!!!.Can u believe that???And did nothing.Navengineers did not try to save as they were not paid or did not supply the food with.Why could not the ministry spend some money and rescue or clear the vessel of fuel?Because nobody cares and that is it.Ministeries have a lot of money to waste but has no money to pay engineers to save our nature?Will wait and see the disaster and it will destroy all the coast line and not a single tourist will come near Panadura or up to Beruwala and the eyes of the government will open then.

Kondeybendapucheena Thursday, 23 August 2012 04:06 PM

Every one waited this to happen,now All including So call envioermenatlist will cry for nothing for Oil start to Leak

rosh Thursday, 23 August 2012 04:54 PM

They should have informed the Iron Man so he should have sell this as another pile of scrap metal

Wahoo Friday, 24 August 2012 04:06 AM

How may i ask, have the authorities secured the coastline from Kaluthara to Puttlam ??

Sri Radharakshitha Friday, 24 August 2012 05:41 AM

This is a very serious environmental hazard the government and the environmental authorities must act quickly. I hope there will be no serious damage to aquatic wildlife.

Sri Radharakshitha Friday, 24 August 2012 05:55 AM

If they couldn't have accomadate the ship in the Colombo port they should have anchored it in the Galle or Trincomalee port. The ports authority is at fault

Senna Friday, 24 August 2012 07:45 AM

Now only the environment disaster starts. No actions taken for the past four years. Mere carelessness from the relevant managements.

Dee Friday, 24 August 2012 07:57 AM

The owner should be arrested. And also the responsible authorities should be put behind bars for not doing anything since april

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Audio: Ship off Panadura sinking

Comments - 14

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Sri Lanka’s Rupee leads emerging markets in 1st quarter of 2024

April 15 declared a government holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Sri Lanka defaults on USD 6 billion payment despite rising reserves: Patali

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

No decision to declare April 15 as public holiday

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES