By: Staff Writer
June 23, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s northern coast is once again grappling with an environmental crisis as nurdles—tiny plastic pellets used in manufacturing—wash ashore, sparking memories of the devastating X-Press Pearl maritime disaster in 2021.
The latest contamination has been traced to the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3, which sank off the coast of Kerala, India, on May 25. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous chemicals, along with 85 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil. All 24 crew members were safely rescued.
Though an initial oil spill was contained by Indian authorities, the environmental aftermath has worsened with the dispersal of nurdles. Strong southwest monsoon winds have carried the plastic pellets from Indian shores to Sri Lanka’s northern regions.
First reports of the nurdles came from Mannar, where seabird observer Lahiru Walpita found unusual white pebbles on the beach. He later discovered over 20 bags, each weighing 25 kg, scattered across a 2-km stretch—most still sealed, indicating recent origins rather than remnants from the 2021 X-Press Pearl spill.
“These plastic pellets are now spreading along the northern coast,” said Padma Abeykoon, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment. “We’ve initiated cleaning operations and are closely monitoring the situation with Indian authorities.”
Wildlife experts fear ecological consequences. Nurdles are often mistaken for food by seabirds such as little terns and bridled terns—species currently in breeding season near Adam’s Bridge Marine National Park. Ingestion could lead to death or reproductive failure, according to Walpita.
Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has activated the National Oil and Hazardous Noxious Substances Spill Contingency Plan. MEPA General Manager Jagath Gunasekara confirmed that, despite the wreck being over 300 nautical miles from Sri Lanka, the risk of toxic chemical contamination remains low for now. “We’re continuously testing water quality as a precaution,” he said.
Indian authorities have temporarily banned fishing within 20 nautical miles of the wreck to mitigate risks, especially from calcium carbide—a reactive substance on board that can release explosive acetylene gas on contact with water.
In a troubling development, another ship—the MV Wan Hai 503—caught fire on June 7 near the same region. Carrying over 2,100 metric tonnes of fuel and hazardous cargo, it is being treated as a higher environmental threat, though Indian officials say the situation is under control.
The recurrence of nurdle pollution highlights the urgent need for stronger maritime safety standards and regional cooperation. Sri Lanka is still pursuing compensation for the X-Press Pearl disaster, with legal proceedings ongoing in international courts.
