The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) says more than 43 containers worth of plastic pellets that washed ashore following the sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 vessel off the Kerala coast have been collected so far.
MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekara said the plastic pellets continue to wash ashore along the coastline from the Jaffna islands to Galle, with the situation worsening due to the monsoon season.
He stated that around 1,800 workers have been deployed for the removal of the plastic pellets, with the costs being covered by the relevant shipping company.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to estimate the compensation required for the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystem due to the sinking of the vessel. The expert committee appointed for this purpose also held a meeting yesterday, the chairman said.
The Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa 3 sank on May 25, 2025, after developing a water leak in waters located about 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala, India. The vessel was carrying 643 containers at the time of the incident.
