Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today (May 29) made an inspection visit to the coastal area in Uswetakeiyawa affected by the debris washed up from the fire-ravaged container ship ‘X-Press Pearl,’ the PM’s Office stated. A massive fire erupted in the cargo vessel ‘X-Press Pearl’ carrying Nitric Acid and other chemicals on May 20. ‘X-Press Pearl’ – registered under the flag of Singapore – had departed with 1,486 containers with 25 tons of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India on May 15. Debris from the fire-stricken cargo ship washed up on the shores of Negombo in Ja-Ela, Kepumgoda, Seththappaduwa and Dungalpitiya areas. Although the beaches are already covered in oil, the biggest problem at the moment is debris, mostly made up of tiny plastic granules, which has now spread along the west coast of Sri Lanka, the authorities have stressed.
