• Suspect ordered to be released on two sureties of one million rupees

An Assistant General Manager attached to the Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the Local Agent of X-Press Pearl vessel was yesterday ordered to be released on bail after being produced before Colombo High Court.

Sanjeewa Samaranayake, the Assistant General Manager of the Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd was named as the fifth suspect in the case filed over the fire ravaged container ship.

The suspect was ordered to be released on two sureties of one million rupees by High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte.

The Court further issued an order preventing the suspect from leaving the country. The passport of the suspect was ordered to be kept under court custody.

Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon appearing for the CID informed that suspect was arrested for committing offenses coming under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act.

On a previous occasion, the CID had arrested the Captain of fire-ravaged container ship MV X-Press Pearl a Russian national) and three other directors of the Local Agent of X-Press Pearl vessel. They are currently out on bail.

The High Court fixed the case for July 15 in order to evaluate the progress of the investigations into the incident.

• On a previous occasion, the CID had arrested the Captain of the fire-ravaged container ship MV X-Press Pearl a (Russian national) and three other directors of the Local Agents of the vessel