MEPA stops cleaning after completing 90%

With 90 per cent of the oil spilled in the seas off Muturajawela due to a leak in a pipeline carrying fuel from tankers to Muturajawela oil terminal having been removed, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has decided to stop cleaning activities in the area.

MEPA General Manager Dr. Turney Pradeep Kumara said there remained a little oil in the sea but removing oil from rocks and sea weeds was difficult. He said if the remaining oil floated towards the land action would be taken to remove it.

The leak reportedly occurred when furnace oil was being unloaded from a UAE flagged Tanker last Saturday. Despite claims by the company owning the tanker that only ten tonnes of oil had been spilled, Dr. Pradeep Kumara said that he estimated it at more than 25 tonnes.

He said according to international standards at least 70 per cent of the oil spilled into the sea must be removed whereas the MEPA had removed 90 per cent of it, in this case

He said according to international standards at least 70 per cent of the oil spilled into the sea must be removed whereas the MEPA with the help of the navy and other relevant agencies had removed 90 per cent of it, in this case.

It is learnt that a part of the oil removed from the sea had been acquired by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for refining and the rest had been discarded.