Special naval operations conducted at Udayarkattu in Mullaitivu and at Kahalla in Katugathota (a sand mining site of Mahaweli River) led to the recovery of several explosive items in past few days.

Ships, aircraft and tugs belong to the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy and other stakeholders are continuing their damage control operations to suppress the fire resulted by adverse weather, onboard the MT New Diamond again. As a result of the incessant effort of the mission partners, the flames have been reduced to a certain extent as of now.

The damage control teams were able to douse the fire onboard MT New Diamond by 3.00 p.m. yesterday. Further, they have been working in full swing to continue damage control operations to prevent a recurrence of fire, using fire smothering agents like water and chemicals.

Sri Lanka Navy in partnership with other stakeholders involved in the damage control operations of the fire-stricken MT New Diamond is working in full swing to prevent a recurrence of fire on distressed crude oil tanker. The fire smothering agents like water and chemicals are being used in this operation to disrupt the oxygen supply and heat which are integral parts in combustion process.

Sri Lanka Navy and other damage control teams were able to bring the fire onboard the crude oil tanker MT New Diamond under control by 3.00 p.m. yesterday (06th September 2020). However, due to the high temperature inside the ship and environmental factors there is a possibility of a return of the fire. Therefore, the vessels and craft dispatched for damage control efforts continue to engage in boundary cooling on the fire engulfed oil tanker.

The MT New Diamond crude oil tanker was transporting 270,000 metric tons of crude oil from the port of Meena Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Port of Paradip in India when a fire broke out aboard in the eastern seas of Sri Lanka on 03rd September 2020 at around 0800 hrs. The ship was sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point when it caught fire with an explosion in a boiler in the ship's main engine room.

The naval operations seized about 815kg of dried turmeric, attempted to be smuggled by sea, at Ettalai in Kalpitiya today (06th September 2020). Meanwhile, the Navy also held 03 suspects in connection to this smuggling racket.

The Sri Lanka Navy and other stakeholders continue to use extinguishing agents and water to augment firefighting and inflict boundary cooling on the ill-fated oil tanker, in full swing. This operation is carried out in safe waters 40 nautical miles (about 74 km) away from land and it was joined by the tug 'Ocean Bliss' at midnight on 05th September 2020.

The distressed vessel is now about 40 nautical miles (about 74 km) away from the shore and Sri Lanka Navy and other stakeholders continue to engage in firefighting and inflict cooling effect on fire-stricken oil tanker using fire extinguishing chemicals and water, at peak of their efficiency. Meanwhile, two (02) more Indian Coast Guard Ships - Ameya and Abheek joined this consolidated operation this afternoon.

Separate search operations conducted by the Navy and Police in Saveewa Pura in Puttalam, Poduwakattu, Mannar and Pallemunei have led to apprehension of 05 suspects with Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE), heroin and Kerala cannabis during the past couple of days.