• An expert committee had estimated that Sri Lanka has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 3480 million

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE ) has instructed the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to expedite the recovery of Rs 3480 million due from the MT New Diamond shipwreck, which has not been received so far, Parliament media unit said yesterday.  

It was revealed that an expert committee had estimated that Sri Lanka has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 3480 million as a result of the sinking of MT New Diamond. It was revealed that the Attorney General has been informed of the situation and steps will be taken to claim the damages. 

  
The committee had also instructed the Secretary to the Environment Ministry to investigate the issues faced by the legal unit of MEPA and to take necessary steps to resolve them.    COPE had further issued instructions to carry out a probe on the failure to take legal action on the ship “Thermophile” which sunk in 2012.   COPE Chairman Charitha Herath had also requested expediting the amendment of Marine Pollution Prevention Act No 35 of 2008 so that MEPA will have more powers to deal with marine pollution.