The Committee to probe the oil spill at Muthurajawela last Saturday once it is named officially early this week, will probe into the causes of the leak, its damages and as to who needs to take the responsibility for the incident said Petroleum Resources Development Ministry Secretary, Upali Marasinghe.
The Committee will comprise officials from the Ministry, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) and Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. (CSCL). Member nominations are to be obtained from different organisations.
While the Committee could obtain expert assistance in their investigations, the Committee report is expected in two weeks.
Last week a leak in a ship-to-shore pipeline damaged marine and coastal eco systems in the western coastal belt.
While the highest destruction was recorded in the areas Dikkowita, Uswetakeyyawa and Thaldiyawatte to the north of the pipeline, visual damage could be recorded from Bambalapitiya in the South, to Pitipana, Negombo in the North. Hundreds of troops and volunteers were deployed in a cleanup operation lasting four days in an effort to minimise the environmental impact.
While the ground level cleanup operation is concluded, MEPA field officers are deployed in the area to observe the effects on a daily basis, said General Manager, Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara. MEPA teams would support cleanup efforts of concentrated residue on the beach which could be found in corners or in small pockets. He requested residents to be vigilant and to inform MEPA teams visiting the area in order to carry out proper disposal.
Researchers said that the actual damage to the marine system could only be assessed after lab tests. Environmentalists predicted years for the marine and coastal eco system to be regenerated.