News
Ship fire: Environmental destruction bill could be highest in recent history
by Ifham Nizam
The Owners and agents of the ill-fated MV X-PRESS PEARL container ship probably would have to pay the highest amount of compensation in recent history when it comes to destruction caused to marine life alone, a senior marine scientist said.
Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), National Aquatic Resources Agency and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) will prepare a rough estimate of the cost of environmental pollution.
Initial investigations have revealed that numerous fish and other aquatic species are dying due to poisoning.
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on Friday put forth guidelines and proposals on the management of “mixed hazardous waste” generated by the MV X-Press Pearl fire to relevant agencies, including MEPA.
Since the waste washed ashore might have been mixed with the hazardous chemicals carried by X-Press Pearl, the total waste generated by the stricken vessel is considered hazardous, CEA Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Unit, Director Ajith Weerasundera said.
The main guidelines are as follows: Beaches and places where the wreckage and debris of the stricken ship “X-Press Pearl” have been found should be identified and designated as “hazardous areas”; the people in those areas should be warned not to touch the waste.
The CEA has said that as this waste could be a hazardous, knowledgeable officers/workers should be deployed to collect the waste and they should engage in the relevant activities, using proper safety devices/equipment and methods. Immediate action should be taken to deposit the collected hazardous waste in suitable temporary storage/containers. The required containers and locations have been specified by the Central Environmental Authority.
Containers for storing the waste should be stored in suitable places and absorbent material (sand or wood powder) or suitable methods should be used to prevent the leakage of waste.
Security arrangements should be made to protect the waste storage areas from outsiders, (ideally by the Sri Lanka Police or Navy). This hazardous waste must be transported in closed vehicles and drivers and personnel dealing with it must use safety equipment, the CEA said.
Institutions permitted by the Central Environmental Authority to manage hazardous waste should carry out waste management activities. All costs incurred in this regard including the cost of waste disposal shall be borne by the relevant shipping company.
Arrangements should be made by environmental economists to calculate the cost of environmental damage caused by the ship fire and the cost incurred should be borne by the relevant parties.
The Sri Lanka Navy together with the MEPA launched a special operation to minimise the impact on Sri Lanka’s coast due to various debris including containers, possible chemical compounds and other hazardous material being washed ashore.
Although the beaches are already coated with oil, the biggest problem at the moment is debris, mostly made up of tiny plastic granules, which have now spread along the west coast of Sri Lanka.
MEPA, Chief Darshini Lahandapura said microplastics would continue to accumulate underwater, posing a threat to the environment.
The fire was doused completely on Friday. However, plumes of smoke were observed still billowing from ‘X-Press Pearl’ off the Colombo Harbour.
A joint effort launched by the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Indian Coast Guard and others has been in full swing for the past few days to control the fire aboard the Singapore-registered container ship.
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
