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Compensation of Rs. 16 million paid to woman whose husband died at sea
View(s):A woman who lost her seafarer husband who died while on a voyage in early July last year was this week compensated Rs.16 million, a spokesperson from the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS) said yesterday.
He said the compensation was received after prolonged discussions with officials from the Italian company that owned the vessel-MV Arundel Castle after attempts were made to offer a smaller amount to the widow.
Electrician Chandana Perera died on the spot of head injuries after taking a heavy fall from the upper deck of the vessel at a location in the Port of Djibouti on July 5 last year he added.
The victim a highly experienced seafarer was signed on board in early April the same year.
They said the NUSS along with the International Transport Federation (ITF) jointly took up the case after the widow lodged a complaint at the trade union office in Colombo 4.
The widow, the mother of a deformed son was at one stage willing to accept a lower compensation owing to her desperate situation but we persuaded her to hold on and at last it worked, NUSS President Palitha Athukorale said.
(LB)