The fire on the MV-X Press Pearl ship off the Sri Lankan coast, which raged for days, has affected scores of daily fishermen on Sri Lanka’s Uswetakeiyawa coast. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who visited the site, has ordered officials to provide immediate relief to the fishermen, reported Colombopage. 

Rajapaksa on Saturday visited the coastline affected by the debris of the ship. He also took stock of the measures to reduce the damage caused by the incident to the marine environment.

Officials of the Marine Environment Protection Authority have been directed to take all possible steps to protect the marine environment. Rajapaksa also ordered them to procure all necessary equipment required for reducing the damage there. 

During the visit, he also thanked the Sri Lankans and other volunteers who helped clean the beach. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan officials are mulling to take legal actions against the owner of the ship as the crucial information that the ship contained the dangerous chemicals were deliberately kept hidden by them. The fire was put off with the help of the Sri Lankan Navy and Indian Coast Guards after days of joint efforts.

The executive director of the company that owns the ship later revealed that the fire started as the containers containing fuel were not stored properly.