New Delhi: Sri Lankan Navy personnel were prevented from carrying out a detailed check of ‘dangerous cargo’ abroad a cargo ship on Wednesday in the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota that was headed for China.
The issue was raised in Lankan parliament on Wednesday by Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa who alleged that the Lankan Navy had not been allowed to “board the vessel to carry out an inspection”.
Without taking names, Premadasa said: “The government appears to be under pressure from a diplomatic mission… I am asking the government to examine this …this is a very serious matter, something that can affect the lives of our community.”
Hambantota Port is a key port on the Indian Ocean, 70 per cent of which has been leased by the Sri Lankan government to the China Merchants Port Holdings Company for 99 years for $1.12 billion.
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An 11-year-old ship ‘MV BBC Naples’ was ordered to move out from the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota on Wednesday after authorities found it to be carrying ‘dangerous cargo’ comprising uranium hexafluoride (UF6), commonly called ‘hex’ in the nuclear industry.
Hugely radioactive, uranium hexafluoride leaks from storage containers can cause severe damage to respiratory organs, eyes, kidneys, reproductive organs to even death besides causing mutations and cancer.
But more significantly, uranium hexafluoride is used while enriching uranium for producing fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
A statement issued by the Hambantota International Port authority said: “…they were carrying a cargo of Uranium Hexafluoride via investigations made by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Port Authority. The vessel was required to leave the port no sooner the facts were verified.”
“The SLPA, Navy, and Customs officials had approved all the necessary documentation prior to the berthing of the vessel, based on the declaration made by the agent. The Navy and Customs were present at all times to ensure that there wasn't any cargo unloaded onto the Hambantota International Port premises.”
According to reports, the halt at Hambantota was an emergency as the ship needed urgent repairs. But the ship had not declared that it carried dangerous cargo on board before entering the port.
The Antigua Barbuda-registered ship had set sail with the dangerous cargo from Rotterdam and was headed towards China.
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