by Sandasen Marasinghe

One person was killed and 14 injured on August 6, at the Colombo Dock Yard when a fire broke out in the oil tank of an Indian ship which was transporting crude oil. The crew had been repairing shell plates at the time the fire broke out.

Police produced the report, issued by the Deputy Government Analyst on August 6, to City Coroner, Edward Ahangama which confirmed that there were no inflammable materials in the tank.

The police said thirteen wounded persons warded at the hospital were unconscious and that they were in critical condition.

The deceased S. M. Chan-dana Suneth Bandara (23), a bachelor, was a resident at Malmaduwa, Kotiyakumbura, Kegalla.

Perumapulla Mudiyanselage Premaratne (31) of Veraluga-shandiya, Aravwala, Pannipi-tiya an engineer of the Colombo Dock Yard Limited at the inquest said that this Indian ship ‘Rajendra Prasad’ which transported crude oil, came to Sri Lanka on July 17. A part of the shell plate of the oil tank was rusted and disfigured and that part had to be replaced. The tank was about 45 metres long and 25 metres high.

"First the sediments of the crude oil was removed. Then rust was broken and the shell plate was cleaned till the sheet appeared. Then it was washed with kerosene oil. To start the repairing in the tank we had to take permission of the Dock Yard security engineer. We informed the Dock Yard security section and they accompanied the Government Analyst to check the condition of the tank and report. If only the condition was good we were permitted to work in the tank. The permission of the Dock Yard security Engineer to work in the tank is valid only for 24 hours. Daily an officer of the Government Analyst Department visits to check the condition of the tank," Premaratne said.

The Engineer, Premaratne said that they started welding the tank on August 1. Then no one was permitted to take in any inflammables. A fireman was there for security purpose. According to the Government Analyst report, they covered the area where the welding sparks spread as there could be danger. There were blowers. The electric welding started, on August 6. There were 12 persons to clean the tank and three persons to involve in welding.

"I was not in the tank. About 6.15 p.m. I saw smoke through man holes. I knew a fire had broken out in the tank. Then I informed the fire brigade to extinguish the fire. All the fifteen persons with burns were taken to the Colombo National Hospital. One person died," Premaratne said.

H. Nandasiri Kumara (29) a sub contractor to the Colombo Dock Yard Limited said that he was the person who was in charge of the 13 people cleaning the tank. The deceased also was one of his men.

"About 6.15 p.m. while I was working I saw three people climbing up the ladder. I saw a large light in the far end of the tank and came out of the tank calling others to come out. The place where the others worked caught fire, Nandasiri Kumara said.

City Coroner, Edward Ahangama, returned a verdict of accidental death due to burn injuries.

PC P. Dayaratne (5650) of Fore Shore Police Station led evidence.