SRI LANKA COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO TAR BALLS WASHED ASHORE FROM MOUNT LAVINIA TO WELLAWATTA

On 04^th July morning, residents near the coastal area reported the appearance of black gobs washed up on the beach. In response, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard's Marine Spill Response team, based in the Western region, inspected the shores stretching from Mount Lavinia to Wellawatta. The team identified these black gobs, suspected to be tar balls, scattered in various locations along the beach. The tar balls, averaging 5 cm or smaller, had a crusty outer layer and were soft and sticky inside.

As part of the restoration process, the Coast Guard team initiated a cleanup operation, successfully removing a significant amount of the tar balls from the shores. Additionally, samples were collected from multiple locations for further testing and observations to understand the cause and composition of the tar balls.