Sri Lanka braces to face oil spill

• Oil spill response plan established
• AG to meet stakeholders today   
• Decision to be reached on compensation

By Easwaran Rutnam   

Sri Lanka is preparing to face a potential oil leak from the ship, X-Press Pearl, which began to sink yesterday.  The Navy said that the coast guard together with vessels from India are now on standby to deal with the situation.   

Navy Spokesman Captain Indika De Silva told Daily Mirror that as of last night one part of the ship was still above the water while the rest had sunk.   

State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal, and Public Sanitation Dr. Nalaka Godahewa told Daily Mirror that the ship was being towed further away from the Sri Lankan coast when one part of the vessel hit the seabed.   

The authorities are now preparing to face an oil leak and minimize the damage it will cause.   

Captain Indika De Silva said that a vessel capable of dealing with an oil spill was on standby.   

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship X-Press Pearl, said that salvors were working with the local authorities and have established an oil spill response plan in case of any loss of oil. 

 
The vessel was carrying 297 tonnes of heavy fuel Oil and 51 tonnes of marine fuel oil.