A software which could assist in preventing Sri Lanka maritime zone from being polluted by arriving ships has been prepared jointly by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).

This software enables the systematic and efficient removal of garbage or pollutants in vessels arriving to Sri Lanka by gathering advance information on them, says Kanchana Thudugala who is the e-Service head of the agency.

Thudugala also said that this software could also be used in the activities like pumping out and refilling the water stored in ships as ballast to maintain their balance.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority says that some 5,000 ships arrive in Sri Lanka annually and that around 1,000 among them discard their nearly 20,000 metric tonnes of garbage in Sri Lanka.

The Authority adds that through this software the marine pollutants could be got rid of through correct methods and that this would be a great assistant in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime zone.

Meanwhile, the ICTA says this software is expected to be used within a few weeks.