No crude oil leakage from Oil Tanker: Govt. Analyst

The Government Analyst’s Department has confirmed that there was no leakage of crude oil from the MT New Diamond Oil Tanker which caught fire off Sangamankanda Point recently, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said today.

She said the MEPA had sent samples taken from the sea area in the vicinity of the ship to the Government Analysts Department to ascertain if there was any leakage of crude oil from the ship.

She said the report said the water sample consisted of a substance called heavy petroleum distillate or bunker oil and no crude oil was detected in the samples.

Ms. Lahandapura said oil samples were also taken from different locations of the ship by the MEPA scientists who got on board the ship and that results of the oil samples would be matched with the results of the water samples to further confirm the matter.