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4,100 appeals from Negombo fishers

05 Jul 2021

  • Compensation from next week: Fisheries/Aquatic Resources Dept.

By Pamodi Waravita   The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department has received 4,100 appeals from fisher folk in the Negombo District who were affected by the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster last month, The Morning learnt. The Department told The Morning that the process of compensating the fisher folk will begin next week. Separately, a sum of Rs. 5,000 was also promised to the affected fishermen by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa last month. The Department informed The Morning that 7,333 families have so far received this amount. Meanwhile, at a meeting held yesterday (5) about the continuous assessment of the damages caused by the MV X-Press Pearl vessel, Justice Minister Ali Sabry has stated that the fisher folk would be given priority in the compensation process. The Protection and Indemnity Insurance (P&I) Club of the MV X-Press Pearl ship has agreed to pay approximately $ 3.6 million of the initial interim claim of $ 40 million, covering the costs incurred in the period from 23 May to 3 June. A press release by the Justice Ministry further stated that the committee appointed to assess the economic damages due to the disaster is expected to hand over its report within the course of this week. The Ministry further stated that another committee has been appointed, consisting of representatives from the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), and the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, to assess the risk of further environmental damage by the remaining containers on the wrecked ship and the surrounding ocean area. The damage already caused by the plastic pellets, that some of the containers onboard the ship were carrying, has been cited as the “worst marine environmental disaster” on the country’s shores by a number of environmentalists. The MV X-Press Pearl ship caught fire on 20 May approximately nine nautical miles away from the Colombo Harbour, after having anchored there a few hours prior to the fire. A subsequent explosion on 24 May led to the fire spreading and a number of containers aboard it falling into the sea, thus releasing pollutants including plastic pellets into the water. Since then, debris and deceased marine life have washed up on the country’s western coastline, heavily affecting both the fisheries industry and the country’s marine environment.

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