News
Raging inferno off Negombo
As toxic debris gets washed ashore CEA claims everything under control
BY Ifham Nizam
Many people collected hazardous debris washed ashore from a fire-stricken container vessel off the Western coast, despite warnings. Authorities have urged people living along the coastal belt between Wattala and Negombo area not to touch debris from the ill-fated ship X-Press Pearl, some of whose containers have fallen into the sea.
The crew abandoned the vessel on Tuesday morning (25) following explosions on board the vessel. Well informed sources said that firefighting efforts hadn’t been successful and the fire fuelled by chemicals seemed out of control.
Chairman of Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Siripala Amarasinghe yesterday (26) warned of the danger of collecting various items washed ashore as the vessel was carrying a range of chemicals and other toxic items.
CEA Chairman Amarasinghe said that they had taken steps to prevent environmental damage caused by the ship, but the Negombo beach was littered with debris from the stricken vessel.
Police spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said that people had removed various items washed ashore. Action would be taken against them, he said. The President’s Office in a statement issued yesterday late afternoon stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued instructions to the relevant authorities to minimise environmental damage.
Amarasinghe maintained that the CEA had taken steps to manage the waste entering the country due to the accident. Officers were currently conducting inspections at the relevant locations, he said.
“Contaminants from the “X-Press Pearl” accident are considered “hazardous waste” and have not yet been clearly identified,” the CEA Chief said.
Urging the public not to handle debris, the CEA asked them to inform the Central Office of the Central Environmental Authority or the 1981 hotline as soon as possible if there was any environmental problem in any area due to the shipwreck.
MEPA, Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura yesterday said there could be hazard materials in the freight containers.
“We received information yesterday that around 20 containers fell into the sea from the vessel. Some of the containers have washed ashore to the Negombo beach.”
She also said that “plastic pebble” like element had washed ashore along the coastline covering an area of around 1.5 km, adding that “a clean-up project will be conducted very soon to clear the beach of harmful components”.
Informed officials also said fire onboard the MV X-PRESS PEARL continued to burn rapidly across the vessel.
National Aquatic Resources Research Agency (NARA) Director-General, Dr. Palitha Kithsiri said a special team of experts had been assigned to survey the toxic effluents from the stricken vessel.
The vessel registered under the Singapore flag is carrying 1,486 containers including 25 tonnes of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals, and cosmetics. It departed from the port of Hazira on India on May 15, 2021.
Sri Lanka Air Force had once again on Wednesday dropped 425 kilos dry chemical powder onto the MV X-Press Pearl in an attempt to contain the fire, said Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe – Spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Two Indian crew members of the distressed MV “X-PRESS PEARL” have been admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.
The two Indian nationals who sustained injuries had been admitted on Tuesday, said Pushpa Ramyani De Zoysa, the Chief Nurse of the Colombo National Hospital. One of them has been tested Covid-19 positive.
An explosion was reported from inside the MV X-PRESS PEARL, on Tuesday morning ,and all 25 crew members were evacuated safely out of the vessel, Captain Indika de Silva, the Navy Spokesperson said.
The distressed container ship was manned by a crew of 25, who are Philippine, Chinese, Indian, and Russian nationals.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan authorities have finally decided to move the MV “X-PRESS PEARL” 50 nautical miles away from the Colombo Harbour into deep seas to prevent any further marine environment destruction around the country.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
