Share: COLOMBO (News 1st): The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) is in the process of collecting evidence to determine the level of pollution caused as a result of the blazing MV X-PRESS PEARL, in order to seek compensation. “We have collected evidence including water samples from various locations in closer proximity of the vessel, conducted air pollution monitoring near the vessel and close to Keralawapitiya area on the land,” Dharshani Lahandapura, the Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) told News 1st on Wednesday (May 26). According to Lahandapura, MEPA is planning to conduct further analysis and collect samples from areas close to the Negombo beach area, where the debris had grounded, and also from the sediments of the sea bed.