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26 ships polluted Sri Lankan waters

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The Maritime Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has reported that 26 ships polluted Sri Lankan waters in the past year, based on data from a satellite monitoring project conducted in collaboration with the French government.

The project, aimed at monitoring maritime pollution, uses advanced satellite technology to track and analyze incidents of marine contamination.

Two major shipwrecks—the New Diamond and X-Press Pearl—stand out in recent history as causes of significant environmental damage to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystem. The New Diamond caught fire and sank 38 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s east coast in September 2020, while the X-Press Pearl, a Singapore-registered vessel, sank near Colombo Port after catching fire in May 2021. Both incidents caused severe and long-lasting harm to marine life and coastal areas.

In response to these environmental disasters, MEPA, with support from a French company, launched a pilot project to assess fuel spills in Sri Lankan waters using satellite technology. The findings from this initiative confirmed that 26 ships entering Sri Lankan waters over the past year have contributed to ocean pollution.

Commenting further regarding the matter, Project Manager Oliver Germane said: “When we presented these report to all the stakeholders, they were surprised by the results because probably did not expect to see so many pollutions in the national waters. In total 115 pollutions have taken place in 12 months, which means that on a rate, each time we are acquiring an image, we have more than 50% chance to see a pollution in this image.”

“Also the estimation of the volume of pollution was taken… total volume of pollutants was more than 6 million litres of pollutants released to the Sri Lankan waters. So, on a range, every month, 500,000 litres of pollutants have been released in to the waters.”

“The amount of pollutants which was released by the incidents of the X-Press Pearl in 2021 was 350,000 litres. This means that on a rate we have an equivalent volume of pollutants the X-Press Pearl released to Sri Lankan waters every month,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr. Germane stated: “We were also able to identify the potential polluters in some cases. For this project, we were able to do so in 26 cases. So, points to them, to take possible actions.”

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Names of Mayors and Chairpersons of several LG bodies gazetted

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A gazette extraordinary has been issued containing the names of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government institutions.

The names have been gazetted based on recommendations sent to the National Election by political parties and independents groups that secured a majority in local government bodies at the recently concluded Local Government (LG) election.    

Accordingly, the Election Commission has taken steps to publish the names from among the political parties and independent groups that secured a majority at the Local Government election held recently.

The names of the elected and nominated members for the respective local authorities, following the Local Government election were also published in the government gazette based on the respective administrative districts.

As per the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on February 17, 2025, the term of office of local government bodies is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025

පළාත් පාලන ආයතනවල සභාපතිවරුන්ගේ නම් ඇතුළත් ගැසට් පත්‍රය නිකුත් කෙරේ by poornima

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Weather Alert: Showers to ease in Southwest, strong winds forecast in North

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Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Aluthgamage and Fernando assigned printing work in prison

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Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.

Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.

Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.

Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.

They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.

Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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