Govt. to launch probe over X Press Pearl disaster

28 October 2024 06:39 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 19 Bookmark

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Colombo, October 28 (Daily Mirror) - The government will study the X Press Pearl disaster which occurred in 2021 and will launch an investigation over it in the near future, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Daily Mirror last evening.

The government is going to take steps in this regard in a context where the previous authorities have not yet submitted claims for the civil liability cost of the disaster.

Sri Lanka is now poised to receive US $ 810,696.57 as cost involved in beach cleaning and debris removal after the X-Press Pearl disaster but the authorities concerned are yet to submit claim for civil liability cost which is the biggest amount.

The ship owner has agreed to settle this amount to cover the beach cleaning and debris removal cost for the period between July 1, 2023 and February 29 ,2024.

MV X-Press Pearl, a container ship carrying hazardous chemicals caught fire off Sri Lanka's coast on May 20, 2021.

It washed up tons of plastic pellets and other pollutants on the beaches and harmed the marine ecosystem.

The then government, through the Attorney General's Department, filed a lawsuit in Singapore.

An Australian law firm has been hired for the purpose along with six international experts to assess claims for the civil liability - the cost of environmental damage, economic loss, restoration work etc.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) reported an oil slick of an approximate area of 0.51 km2 with a length of 4.3 km around the wreck.

While the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined by the MEPA, the insurance company for the ship has already compensated the Sri Lankan government to the tune of USD 7.85 million, according to a report published by the Institute of Policy Studies.

The MEPA is still in the dark about steps being taken by the Attorney General's Department regarding litigation in Singapore.

Comments - 19

Nihal S Monday, 28 October 2024 06:59 AM

Maybe someone has taken money from the ship company to derail the legal process. We are waiting to see the findings.

1 47

Jonty Monday, 28 October 2024 07:29 AM

Doing something until tomorrow.....

22 5

A COMMENT THAT IS A WASTE OF SPACE, WHEN MAJORITY OF MY COMMENTS ARE NOT PUBLISHED. Monday, 28 October 2024 01:08 PM

JONTY, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE IN YOUR COMMENT OR YOUR ARE UNABLE TO EXPRESS YOUR VIEW IN ENGLISH, SO YOU ARE EXCUSED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO YOU SUPPORT, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE GET USED TO THE FACT THAT ANURA/NPP WILL WIN THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTION. ALL THOSE LIKE YOU WHO SEEM TO DISLIKE ANURA AND OR FAVOUR THE CORRUPT LOT THAT RULED FOR DECADES TILL ANURA WON THE PRESIDENCY WILL FINALLY REALISE THAT WE THE MAJORITY HAVE FINALLY OPENED OUR GOT GIVEN EYES AND EARS WHEN OUR SUFFERINGS ESCALATED AND THE COUNTRY WAS BANKRUPT. WE GET ON OUR KNEES DAILY AND PRAY FOR THE 2ND MIRACLE THAT ONCE AGAIN THE CORRUPT LOT AND THEIR STOOGES ARE WIPED OUT OF POLITICS. STAY TUNED.

4 21

Amila Perera Monday, 28 October 2024 08:08 AM

Of course. Very good move to find out whether any corruption took place.

2 41

Kadikamam s Monday, 28 October 2024 08:15 AM

Good one; we have forgotten all these intensional negligence by the successive governments.

2 34

Sloppy Investigations and Claims Previously Carried Out Monday, 28 October 2024 08:45 AM

Excellent move. Terminate all those officers who took this disaster lightly. The owners of the recent ship accident in US has already paid compensation for the cleanup of the waterway only. Other compensation claims are ongoing in their courts too. It’s also quite obvious some people have benefited from this Xpress accident and hopefully after the new investigations, all will be officially know. Hope the public is kept updated too.

8 34

Gunapala Monday, 28 October 2024 12:58 PM

Govt can't terminate those responsible officers - now they are all NPP supporters!

13 7

Osawld Monday, 28 October 2024 09:06 AM

Nice timing. Would be able to get quite a few sound bites about it at election rallies ....

31 12

Nimal Monday, 28 October 2024 12:02 PM

Are you suggesting this should be kept under the carpet? Damn they do damn they don't do, right? No wonder SL is in a state that is.

2 11

Osawld Monday, 28 October 2024 09:06 AM

Nice timing. Would be able to get quite a few sound bites about it at election rallies ....

19 8

Nilantha Monday, 28 October 2024 12:03 PM

Kick bait.

2 4

Guppi Monday, 28 October 2024 09:20 AM

It's time to hold accountable those who decided to pay $6 million for the toxic waste fertilizer delivery when the country was in utter crisis. For me, that was the moment when the bank denied my request for dollars from my own NRFC account to cover my daughter's higher education travel expenses. Names like Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Johnston Fernando come to mind! Your 'jumpers' are in the prison laundry. Also, investigate how the claimed and paid insurance was reduced by large amounts.

2 42

Labby Monday, 28 October 2024 12:23 PM

The former Attorney General should be questioned about the wisdom of sending the court hearings to Singapore.

2 17

Nihal S Monday, 28 October 2024 12:44 PM

Please investigate on toxic fertilizer ship load as well. Where are the accountabilities in using public funds there.

1 12

saman Monday, 28 October 2024 02:10 PM

"The insurance company for the ship has already compensated the Sri Lankan government to the tune of USD 7.85 million, according to a report published by the Institute of Policy Studies". Did the Sri Lankan Government actually receive this money? We learned from the parliament and Wijedasa Rajapaksa (Hitapu) that USD 250,000 was paid to someone as an advance and we think he is aware of the full story. The government probe over this disaster, should include him as well. He will be very helpful.

2 18

Lucky Monday, 28 October 2024 07:05 PM

Mr President please keep the public, your supporters, informed about ALL the monies the Country receives/received over this disaster, as so much confusion has been created intentionally by those Ex Authorities so that the monies they siphoned out was hidden.

0 7

Banana Republic Tuesday, 29 October 2024 10:28 AM

They make a lot of statements but need to follow up on it. They state all the facts. But they say they will probe in the near future. Then people forget and they also forget. I hope whatever they say they have formed and identified a committee or personal to these investigations. Otherwise it’s all politics. I think each time they make a statement on something serious, they need to immediately back it up with who’s gonna look at it and appoint them immediately. They have yet to file anything on the dirty money in the country and political looters who took out the money

0 2

DOT Tuesday, 29 October 2024 11:54 AM

X perl

0 0

martin Tuesday, 29 October 2024 05:31 PM

This government can only stay in power using probes. So one probe after another with no meaningful action

1 0

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