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X-Press Pearl disaster: Ship captain, local agent and six others indicted
View(s):By Ranjith Padmasiri
The Attorney General has filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against eight accused over environmental damage caused to Sri Lanka’s coastline due to the X-Press Pearl disaster.
The accused include the vessel’s captain and local agent. The AG has filed eight indictments against the accused under the Marine Pollution Prevention (MPP) Act. If found guilty, the High Court can impose a fine up to Rs. 16 million each on the accused.
The cases against the ship’s captain, who is the first accused, is due to be called before the Colombo High Court on November 25.
The X-Press Pearl, which caught fire and sank off the country’s western coast in May last year, resulted in the biggest ever maritime environmental disaster in Sri Lanka’s history. It polluted vast swathes of coastline and led to the deaths of marine life, while also resulting in local fishermen losing their livelihood. The indictments have been filed taking these matters into consideration.
Russian national Vitaly Tyutkalo served as the X-Press Pearl’s Captain at the time of the incident while Sea Consortium Lanka was the ship’s local agent.
The Harbour Master of the Colombo Port has been named a witness in the case. During the court proceedings, the prosecution also hopes to submit the environmental impact assessment report compiled by experts appointed by the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) . The report is expected to provide a final damage assessment of the disaster.
Soon after the disaster, the AG reported the facts of the incident to Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta. The suspects who were arrested in relation to the case have been released on bail.
The ship’s owners have already reimbursed the Sri Lankan government the cost of fighting the fire on board the vessel and the vessel’s insurers have also settled several interim claims. Additionally, the government has also decided to file action in a foreign jurisdiction to recover compensation it is still owed.
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