Who is the Sri Lankan who was paid $250mn bribe to derail litigation against X-Press Pearl?

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said he got hold of details regarding the transfer of US $ 250 million to the foreign account of a Sri Lankan as a bribe to obstruct the legal process related to X-Press Pearl disaster, and directed the police to initiate investigations into it.

However the Minister is yet to name the individual involved.

The Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl ship was on fire for two weeks near the Colombo port in May, 2021 causing a disaster to the marine environment of the country.

The X-Press Pearl had been carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid, along with other chemicals and cosmetics, when it caught fire on May 20, 2021.

The government authorities are now planning for litigation against the company seeking compensation.

Minister Rajapakshe told Daily Mirror that he received details related to the bank transaction involving a US $ 250 million bribe to derail the process, denying compensation to the country.

“Money has been transferred to the foreign bank account of a Sri Lankan national. As the minister, I directed the police to investigate the matter. I gave all the details to the police. The police have already commenced investigations," he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Attorney General is proceeding with plans for litigation in Singapore.

Sri Lankas lawyers have hired a few foreign legal experts since the case is to be heard under a different direction. (KELUM BANDARA)