Environmental Damage from MSC Elsa Incident Under Investigation as Cleanup Efforts Continue Along Sri Lankan Coastline

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan authorities have launched a multi-agency response to assess and contain environmental damage caused by microplastic fragments and debris linked to the MSC Elsa 03, a Liberian-flagged container ship that suffered an accident in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala, India.

The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) confirmed that special investigative teams have been dispatched along Sri Lanka’s coastline—from the north to the south—to evaluate the impact on marine life and coastal ecosystems.

Cleanup operations remain underway to remove plastic particles and other pollutants believed to have originated from the vessel. 

Jagath Gunasekara, Director General of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), stated that priority cleanup efforts are currently focused on the beaches of Jaffna, Mannar, and Galle, where debris has already begun to accumulate.

Gunasekara also noted that the Sri Lankan armed forces, along with local community members, are actively involved in the coastal cleanup operations.

Despite these efforts, marine debris continues to wash ashore in multiple districts, including Jaffna, Mannar, Puttalam, and Galle—raising concerns about prolonged environmental fallout.

The MSC Elsa was transporting 643 cargo containers when it encountered a water leak and began taking on water on May 25, roughly 38 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. 

Several containers are believed to have been damaged or lost at sea, releasing microplastics and other hazardous materials that now threaten regional marine biodiversity.

Authorities are continuing monitoring and mitigation efforts as investigations into the full extent of the ecological impact unfold.