Sri Lanka’s worst maritime disaster

Navy personnel clear debris and other materials that washed ashore from the container cargo vessel MV X-Press Pearl on to the beach of Negombo, north-west of Colombo. Marine and coastal protection authorities warned about an environmental crisis from Sri Lanka’s worst maritime disaster as tonnes of plastic waste and pellets from the ship washed ashore. The vessel had been on fire for almost two weeks before it started sinking last week, threatening an oil spill. Authorities fear possible threats to the fish-breeding lagoons in the area, which is well known for its crabs and jumbo prawns as well as for its tourist beaches.