Toxic Legacy of X-Press Pearl Disaster Still Haunts Sri Lanka’s Coast
Palapitiya, Sri Lanka – July 28, 2025:
Four years after the X-Press Pearl cargo ship disaster, volunteers are still finding toxic plastic pellets buried in Sri Lanka’s beaches.
The ship caught fire and sank in May 2021, releasing billions of plastic nurdles, fuel, acid, batteries, and other toxic materials into the ocean. These nurdles — small lentil-sized plastic pellets — continue to pose serious threats to marine life and human health.
The immediate damage was devastating. Plastic blanketed the shoreline, turning it white. Dead turtles, dolphins, and fish washed ashore with visible injuries and burns.
But new research warns that the long-term effects may be even worse.
Plastic Turning More Toxic
Scientists from Manchester Metropolitan University say the nurdles are absorbing even more pollution over time.
“They’re acting like a chemical sponge,” said Dr. David Megson, a forensic chemist. Tests on burnt nurdles found toxic metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Some of these are now showing up in fish caught near the wreck site and Negombo lagoon.
Though it’s unclear if these fish directly ingested nurdles, the toxic match raises serious concerns.
“This pollution likely harms both the ecosystem and the people who depend on it,” Dr. Megson added.
Coastal Life Disrupted
Local fishermen say their lives have changed drastically.
“There’s no fish since then,” said Jude Sulanta, a fisherman near the wreck site. “Our lives turned upside down. Young fish are disappearing.”
Many fishermen are now selling their boats and looking to leave the country. Jude’s son is considering giving up fishing altogether.
Cleanup Challenges and Legal Battles
Initial cleanup efforts, run by Sri Lankan authorities and supported by the ship’s owners, removed large volumes of plastic. Volunteers once collected up to 400 kg per day. Today, it’s down to just a few kilos as the pellets sink deeper into the sand.
X-Press Feeders Ltd., the ship’s owner, claims to have spent over $130 million on cleanup and wreck removal. They also paid $20 million to the Sri Lankan government to support affected communities and coastal work.
But Sri Lankan officials say this amount falls far short.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ordered X-Press Feeders to pay $1 billion as initial compensation. The company, based in Singapore, disputes the judgment and says it’s reviewing legal options.
Meanwhile, Prof. Prashanthi Guneeardena, chair of a scientific committee on the disaster, estimates the true cost exceeds $6 billion. Her findings include losses to tourism, fishing, wildlife, and the public’s health due to toxic exposure.
She warns that dioxins and furans, released during the fire, are known carcinogens. “We’ve calculated that this may result in up to 70 premature deaths in Sri Lanka,” she said.
X-Press Feeders rejected the report, calling it inaccurate and unscientific. The Colombo Port Authority also denies responsibility, claiming it wasn’t aware of the leak until the vessel arrived.
A Future in Doubt
Despite years of legal battles and ongoing scientific research, Sri Lankans feel justice is far away.
“If we were going to get justice, we would have had it by now,” Jude said. “My son is ready to leave. Fishing no longer feels like a future.”
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