EU experts helping Sri Lanka assess ship disaster damage

A team of technical experts from European Union are helping Sri Lanka’s government assess the environmental damage caused by the sinking of a container ship that was carrying chemicals and caught fire

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- A team of technical experts from European Union are helping Sri Lanka's government assess the environmental damage caused by the sinking of a container ship that was carrying chemicals and caught fire, the government said Friday. The experts held discussions with top Sri Lankan officials and stakeholders on Friday, a day after the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl ship sank off the country's main port and nearly a month after the vessel caught fire. The 12-day fire ravaged the vessel, destroyed most of its cargo and caused severe pollution in the ocean and along a long stretch of the island nation’s famed beaches. The team include three experts sent by the European Union through the United Nations Environment Program at Sri Lanka's request. Sri Lanka said that expertise within the country wasn't sufficient to accurately calculate the damage caused to its marine environment and coastal areas and also on the country’s economy.