A report by the committee investigating the extent of damage to the country’s marine and coastal environment caused by the X-Press Pearl was presented yesterday by Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairman Dharshani Lahandapura to Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and State Minister Arundika Fernando.
The report also contained a claim for compensation for the damage that the fire-stricken container ship caused in May 2021.
Minister Ranatunga said that the report will be presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
This expert committee consists of 40 representatives. Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the Moratuwa University Professor Ajith de Alwis and Senior Lecturer of Sri Jayewardenepura University Professor Prashanti Gunawardena acted as co-chairpersons.
This committee has been investigating various aspects of the accident for one-and-a-half years and prepared this report.
Addressing the gathering, Urban Development and Housing State Minister Arundika Fernando said the biggest shipwreck in this country was the sinking of X-Press Pearl after it caught fire.
“We are waiting to receive compensation amounting to US$ 6.5 billion for the damage caused to the coastline and coastal environment of this country due to this accident. There are reasonable reasons for claiming such an amount of compensation. This is the right of the people of our country. The expert committee is also ready to present facts at any moment on investigations. Therefore, there is no need to prolong this incident further,” he said.
“Cases have been filed in the courts of our country regarding this accident. We are also hoping to file a case in Singapore regarding damage caused to the marine and coastal environment in Sri Lanka. However, the damage caused to the environment by these shipwrecks cannot be underestimated,” he added.
The proposal submitted by Minister Ranatunga to the Cabinet of Ministers to receive compensation in dollar terms related to the damage caused to the marine environment in Sri Lanka from the insurance company which has insured the ship, has been approved.
Minister Ranatunga said that the Cabinet has agreed to receive compensation in US dollars for all activities such as beach cleaning, waste management, and environmental damage.
In addition to this, the Cabinet has also approved receiving compensation in US dollars for all activities such as beach cleaning, waste management, and environmental damage if such an accident occurs in the future.
The Minister said otherwise the insurance company that has insured the ship will take advantage of the depreciation of the rupee by paying a full portion of the relevant insurance claims in rupees.
Therefore, the relevant Cabinet paper has mentioned that the Marine Environment Protection Authority has informed the Attorney General’s Department that instead of receiving the compensation in rupees, it is appropriate to receive it in US dollars.
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