X-Press Pearl disaster We won’t be able to even deliver notices if case filed in SL: Wijeyadasa

• Even if a judgement was obtained from a Sri Lankan court, Sri Lanka would not be able to obtain the money from the ship-owners

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Justifying the filing of the case with regard to the X-Press Pearl disaster in Singapore Court, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday that Sri Lanka would not have been able to deliver the notice to the relevant party if the case was filed in Sri Lanka.   

The Minister told Parliament that the decision to file the case in Singapore was made as the registered ship owner and charter party are in Singapore and the said company is bankrupt now.  

He said even if a judgement was obtained from a Sri Lankan court, Sri Lanka would not be able to obtain the money from the ship-owners.  

The Minister said, as per the laws in Singapore which said that third party responsibility against insurers, there was a possibility of using the judgement against the ship-owners against the insurer as well.  

“We have not been able to deliver the notices with regard to the three cases filed in Sri Lankan court against the New Diamond disaster,” he said.  

• We have not been able to deliver the notices with regard to the three cases filed in Sri Lankan court against the New Diamond disaster