Sri Lanka ships back container-loads of waste to Britain

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has shipped back to Britain container-loads of waste, AFP reported.

The government said the waste was brought into Sri Lanka in violation of international laws governing the shipping of hazardous material.

The 21 containers — holding up to 260 tons of rubbish — first arrived by ship in Colombo’s main port between September 2017 and March 2018, customs told AFP, adding that they departed Sri Lanka on Saturday.

They were meant to carry used mattresses, carpets and rugs, but had also contained hospital waste, officials said.

“The shipper had agreed to take back these 21 containers,” customs spokesman Sunil Jayaratne told AFP.

Previous illegally imported containers had included rags, bandages and body parts from mortuaries, according to officials.