Front Page

Front Page

Toxic container unloaded at Colombo port
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is saddled with a container load of pesticide waste after it was dumped here by a ship which developed a fire mid sea while on its way to Iran from China.

Authorities were last night looking into the possibility of disposing the waste in what they called an 'environmentally friendly manner', but they were unable to comment on as to how one of the containers was left behind.

SLPA Chairman Prakarama Dissanayake confirmed that one container load of pesticide waste was left behind at the port and they had consulted the Central Environmental Authority to look into the possibility of disposing of the waste in an environmentally friendly manner.

He said this type of activities took place world wide and they were awaiting the CEA's report. The ship which was not scheduled to call over at Colombo sought permission to come in after it developed a fire early this week. At the port, it unloaded 13 containers and attended to the repairs and took off, leaving behind one of the containers.

It was not immediately clear as to why permission was granted to keep one of the containers back. CEA Deputy Director General K.G.D. Bandarathilake told The Sunday Times that the Ports Authority had informed them that a containers had been left behind by a ship which had developed a fire. He said the CEA had called for a technical report to look into the possibility of disposing of it, without damaging the environment.

"If we cannot ensure that the environment is protected we will not agree with it," he said. But environmentalist are up in arms about granting permission to unload the pesticide waste at the Colombo harbour. The Environmental Foundation is to lodge an entry with the police to prevent the waste from being transported out of the harbour.

Back to Front Page