A probe has been launched to ascertain whether proper approval was taken to bring the goods contained in the cargo ship which recently collided with the Baltimore Bridge in America while on its way to Sri Lanka, State Minister of Environment Janaka Wakkumbura said.

The State Minister informed the Parliament of Sri Lanka today that the probe has already commenced. 

Stating that Sri Lanka’s Central Environmental Authority was not informed of the contents of the cargo ship, he said the details were known only due to the ship accident. 

State Minister Wakkumbura made the remarks in response to questions raised by Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa and SLPP MP Charitha Herath concerning the said cargo ship.

Opposition Leader MP Premadasa pointed out that the Baltimore Bridge accident had revealed that such a vessel was enroute to Sri Lanka, which would have gone uninformed if not. 

MP Premadasa called for a probe into the matter, urging the authorities to find out how such a vessel was travelling to Sri Lanka without the knowledge of the Central Environmental Authority. 

Meanwhile, SLPP MP Charitha Herath said ships containing hazardous contents must receive prior approval to pass through Sri Lanka’s ports, adding that upon inquiries, the Central Environmental Authority had confirmed no such approval had been sought by the said vessel. 

“Sri Lanka ratified the Basel Convention in 1992, which can be used as a method to find out about this ship. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, this ship carries 764 containers of Class-9 hazardous waste. It was headed for the South Asia Gateway Terminal at the Colombo Port. The ship’s local agent is a well-established company. Given the circumstances, there might be a relaxation of the law to some extent. We need to proactively intervene in this matter. The country has already suffered from two major ship disasters in the past,” MP Herath further warned. 

Six people died after the Dali cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US last Tuesday, causing shipments to be suspended in and out of one of the country’s busiest ports.

In total, 21 crew members, including one from Sri Lanka, were on board the Dali at the time of the accident, which happened just minutes into the ship’s 27-day journey to Sri Lanka.

Officials have announced that a temporary alternative route for ships is to be opened in the US city of Baltimore following the collapse of the major bridge, while efforts are underway to remove debris from the water. (NewsWire)

#SriLanka ratified the Basel Convention in 1992. According to @DHSgov, this ship carries 764 containers of Class-9 hazardous waste. The ship’s local agent is a well-established company. It is headed for SAGT. Given the circumstances, there might be a relaxation of the law to some… pic.twitter.com/A4VZAW7ntK

— Manthri.LK_Watch (@ManthriLK_Watch) April 2, 2024

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Not only Parliament but the Executive President is also responsible for the people, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Charitha Herath said. 

Professor Charitha Herath expressed his views in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

The letter has been forwarded to the President based on the recent reports on the problems developing between the Parliamentary Constitutional Council and the President.

Prof. Herath points out that a conflict has arisen between the Constitutional Council and the President over the nomination of the Court of Appeal President, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne to the Constitutional Council. 

Stating that the Constitutional Council members have rejected the nomination 5-3, MP Herath warned that, however, President Wickremesinghe’s refusal to accept the rejection was causing a serious constitutional crisis. 

Following is the 04-point letter of Prof. Charitha Herath to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

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Parliamentarian Charitha Herath has raised concerns over the proposed electricity sector reforms, in a 16-point letter to Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera. 

In his letter, MP Herath pointed out that a robust evaluation of the proposed power sector reforms in Sri Lanka is imperative and should encompass comprehensive studies, including technical, economic, sensitivity, and risk analyses. 

“These assessments play a crucial role in gauging the potential impact and outcomes of anticipated reforms in a vital sector like electricity. Regrettably, no analysis reports accompanying the proposed Bill or emerging during the recent process have been observed,” he said.

MP Herath stressed that it was essential that thorough and transparent assessments are conducted to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the envisaged reforms in this critical sector.

“I strongly advocate for a thorough review of analysis reports before determining critical timelines, attributes, and policy decisions associated with the electricity reform process,” he added.

Following are the concerns raised by MP Charitha Herath;

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