Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Burnt-out MV X-Press Pearl sinking off Sri Lanka coast

Burnt-out MV X-Press Pearl sinking off Sri Lanka coast

A BURNT-OUT container ship that has already caused Sri Lanka's worst maritime environmental disaster was sinking on Wednesday (2) with several hundred tons of oil still in its fuel tanks, the navy said.

The MV X-Press Pearl, carrying hundreds of tons of chemicals and plastics, burned for 13 days within sight of the island's coast before rescue workers finally managed to extinguish the blaze on Tuesday (1).


A huge amount of plastic debris has already inundated beaches, and authorities now fear an even greater disaster should the 278 tons of bunker oil and 50 tons of gas in the Singapore-registered ship's fuel tanks leak into the Indian Ocean.

As tugs on Wednesday (2) began trying to tow the ship further out to sea, navy spokesperson Indika de Silva said it was slowly sinking. "The stern of the ship is under water, the water level is above the deck," de Silva said. "The ship is going down."

Some oil was already visible near the beaches of Negombo, about 40 km (25 miles) from Colombo, although it was not clear if it was from the stricken ship.

De Silva said the navy helped Dutch salvage firm SMIT board the vessel and establish a tow connection after several attempts overnight failed due to bad weather.

"The ship will be towed as further away from the coast as possible before it goes down completely," he added.

Fisheries minister Kanchana Wijesekera tweeted that the salvage company involved in the operation "has indicated that the vessel is sinking at the current location".

An official involved in the mitigation efforts said earlier that local experts feared the vessel was unstable. "The fire-fighting efforts also saw a lot of water sprayed onto the decks. Much of that water has settled in the stern," the official said.

Officials had planned to pump contaminated water from the ship onto barges, but the operation has been abandoned.

The navy said an Indian coast guard vessel in the area had the equipment to deal with an oil slick if necessary.

Microplastic granules from the ship's containers have already forced a fishing ban and prompted concern for the wildlife and environment.

Officials believe the blaze destroyed most of the nearly 1,500 containers onboard.

Marine Environment Protection Authority chief Dharshani Lahandapura said the ecological damage is still being assessed, but he believed it was the "worst ever in my lifetime".

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked Australia on Monday (31) to help evaluate the ecological damage to the island, one of the most bio-diverse countries in south Asia.

Sri Lanka has launched a criminal investigation. The authorities believe that the fire was caused by a nitric acid leak which the crew apparently knew about from May 11, nine days before the blaze started.

Police said the captain and chief engineer, both Russian nationals, as well as a third officer have been questioned. A court had ordered Tuesday (2) to impound the passports of all three pending investigations.

The ship was heading to Colombo from Gujarat, India, when the blaze started, having previously visited Qatar and Dubai where the containers of 25 tons of nitric acid were loaded.

More For You

UK-Pakistan talks may allow deportation of Rochdale child abusers
Adil Khan (left) and Qari Abdul Rauf. (Photo credit: Greater Manchester Police)

UK-Pakistan talks may allow deportation of Rochdale child abusers

PAKISTAN may reconsider accepting two convicted leaders of the Rochdale child sexual abuse gang if direct flights between the UK and Pakistan are restored, a senior Pakistani official has said.

Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, both found guilty of serious child sexual exploitation offences in the UK, were stripped of their British citizenship nearly a decade ago.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump says 'won’t get Nobel' as Pakistan backs 2026 nomination

Donald Trump walks out of the Oval Office before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on June 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

Trump says 'won’t get Nobel' as Pakistan backs 2026 nomination

PAKISTAN government has announced that it will formally nominate US president Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his “decisive diplomatic intervention” during the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan.

The announcement was made on Saturday (21) on X, just days after president Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief general Asim Munir at the White House.

Keep ReadingShow less
King Charles praises yoga as thousands join global celebrations

Yoga Day celebrations in the UK (Photo: X/@HCI_London)

King Charles praises yoga as thousands join global celebrations

HUNDREDS of people gathered in central London on Friday (20) evening to mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, with King Charles III sending a special message of support for the ancient practice that continues to grow in popularity across Britain.

The celebration took place at an iconic square on the Strand, organised by the Indian High Commission in partnership with King's College London. High commissioner Vikram Doraiswami opened the proceedings by reading out the King's personal message from Buckingham Palace.

Keep ReadingShow less
Parliament backs assisted dying in historic law shift

Supporters of the assisted dying law for terminally ill people hold a banner, on the day British lawmakers are preparing to vote on the bill, in London, Britain, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Parliament backs assisted dying in historic law shift

PARLIAMENT voted on Friday (20) in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for the country's biggest social change in a generation.

314 lawmakers voted in favour with 291 against the bill, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India

An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, July 7, 2017. Picture taken July 7, 2017.

Regulator warns Air India over delayed emergency equipment checks: Report

INDIA’s aviation regulator has warned Air India for violating safety rules after three of its Airbus aircraft operated flights without undergoing mandatory checks on emergency escape slides, according to official documents reviewed by Reuters.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued warning notices and a detailed investigation report highlighting the breach. These documents were sent days before the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8, in which all but one of the 242 people onboard were killed. The Airbus incidents are unrelated to that crash.

Keep ReadingShow less