Cargo in containers on board of container ship X-PRESS PEARL caught fire in Colombo Anchorage on May 20th, 2021 and followed by the continuous fire an explosion rocked container ship in the morning May 25th, 2021. Reportedly the ship arrived with 1486 containers on board, loaded among other goods, with nitric acid, ethanol, other chemicals, and cosmetics. Since this disaster has direct and indirect impacts on marine and aquatic resources, NARA has taken immediate actions to investigate the situation and assess the environmental damage caused by the series of fire incidents for 5 days. All the investigations are being carried out under the guidance of Dr. H.M.P.Kithsiri, Director General of NARA. Senior Scientist attached to Environmental Studies Division (ESD) of NARA, who is also the Committee Member of IMT formed by the MEPA, Dr. A.A.D. Amarathunga had conducted an initial inspection on 23rd May 2021 at the site of the incident and collected seawater samples from the area close proximity to the burning ship. In-situ water quality parameters were measured at the point of sample collection and further laboratory analysis currently is being carried out in the analytical laboratory of the ESD at NARA. A team of scientists from both the Environmental Studies Division and the Marine Biological Resources Division of NARA has conducted a combined survey on 26th May 2021 in the area of the incident and Colombo coastal area to assess the environmental impacts resulted from the explosion and magnified fire situation in the ship. Resulting from the accelerated fire incident significant environmental damage is observed in the local environment, especially in the vicinity of the site of the incident and the western coast. In order to conduct environmental damage assessment and impact evaluation study technical committee had been appointed by the MEPA with the expertise from NARA. A full-scale investigation is planned to be carried out on 27th  May 2021 in the coastal stretch from Mount Lavinia to Wennappuwa, including the Negombo lagoon area with the participation of a team of experts from the Environmental Studies Division, Marine Biological Resources Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Marine Sciences and Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division. The study aims at monitoring the ambient coastal water quality, study of planktonic diversity, impact assessment on marine organisms, and monitoring of sediment quality. In addition, depending on the prevailing weather condition, the location of the incident is planned to be revisited on 27th  May 2021 to monitor and investigate the current water quality status, impacts on marine organisms, and damages caused to the other marine resources in the area.