Location

Sri Lanka, Negombo

A vessel carrying toxic chemicals to make plastic catches fire off of the coast in 2021, contaminating the region for generations to come.

Overview

Sri Lanka, Negombo

On 20 May 2021, the X-Press Pearl caught fire off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Carrying 297 tonnes of heavy fuel and 51 tonnes of marine fuel, the vessel also released chemicals into the water, polluting the the Negombo coast. One of the chemicals was nitric acid, known to make fertilizers and plastic. The vessel was then sunk off the coast. From Dikovita, Uswetakeyyawa, Thaldiyawatta, Sarappuwa, Kepungoda, and Dungalpitiya to the Negombo area, harmful substances can still be seen clumped up in the water and on the beaches. A series of beach clean ups have taken place, but the area remains contaminated, with a loss of marine life, which negatively impacts the local fishing activity that communities depend on for their livelihoods.
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Community Stories

Sri Lanka, Negombo
Clean Up
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Resident of Negombo
Dinesha Fernando
Dinesha Fernando lives in the Sarappuwa area. She is doing a beach clean up, and can see where the Xpress Pearl vessel caught fire out at sea.
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A clean up taking place on the beach, to capture the toxic substances released by the X-Press Pearl.
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A dead turtle is found on the beach, with chemical substances attached to its body.
Sri Lanka, Negombo
Fishing
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Fisherman
Gamini Peiris
Gamini Peiris lives in the Negombo Divisional Secretariat and describes how fishing has changed in the area since the vessel caught on fire.
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Clumps of chemical substances can be seen in the fishing nets.
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Fisherman
N.J. Jude Roshan Silva
Jude Roshan Silva lives in Kepungoda. He is a fisherman by profession, in the Divisional Secretariat of Negombo. He speaks to the negative impact the chemicals have had on his fishing activity.
Sri Lanka, Negombo
Fish Market
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Residents buy fish at the Negombo Lellama Fish Market.
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Fishmonger
Christie
Christie works at the Pitipana, Negombo Lellama Fish Market and tells us how the Xpress Pearl negatively impacts business.

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Shot on location with the help of Centre for Environmental Justice.