Saturday, June 23, 2007

Action filed for not removing grounded vessel

The Director of Merchant Shipping of the Port and Aviation Ministry informed the Galle Heritage Foundation that action has been filed against the representatives of the Trading Company concerned for not removing the barge that ran aground in a gale on May 12, near the ancient Galle rampart.

Action will be taken to sell the barge in keeping with the court decision.

At the discussion held recently at the Galle Heritage Foundation office regarding the delay in removing the barge, it was disclosed that the barge belongs to Iran and had been blown off while towing a vessel to Singapore. The Galle Resident Manager of the Sri Lanka Port Authority, L.H.R Sepala said that permission had not been granted for this barge to enter the Galle Harbour.

The representative of the Coast Protection Department said that a large number of coral reefs had been damaged when this barge was blown near the Galle Fort.

Chairman of the Galle Heritage Foundation parliamentarian Ajith Kumara requested the Ports Authority to take steps to remove this barge as it can be a threat to the safety of the rampart.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/23/news/10.asp)

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