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Rs. 216.5 m paid as first stage of MV compensation

21 Oct 2021

  • Distributed to 12,111 fishers/vessel owners in WP
BY Dinitha Rathnayake The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has completed the first stage of compensating the fishing community affected by the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, with a sum of Rs. 216.5 million being paid to 12,111 fishing vessel owners and fishermen in the Western Province area formerly declared a no-fishing zone in the wake of the said disaster. Speaking to The Morning, Ministry Secretary Indu Ratnayake said that this was paid according to an assessment done by the relevant parties. “The compensation was assessed as a daily payment for the fishermen, and we hope to start the next stage as well.” According to reports provided by the Government, Rs. 216.5 million has been given to the relevant District Secretariats (DSs) to be paid as compensation to 12,111 fishing vessel owners and fishermen in the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara Districts of the Western Province who lost their livelihoods due to said disaster.  Accordingly, Rs. 150 million has been paid to the fishermen in the Gampaha District, Rs. 52.67 million to the fishermen in the Colombo District, and Rs. 13.83 million to the fishermen in the Kalutara District, with the compensation being credited to their bank accounts. Ornamental Fish, Inland Fish and Prawn Farming, Fishery Harbour Development, Multi Day Fishing Activities, and Fish Exports State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera disclosed this information during an online discussion. Ratnayake said that the necessary information has been obtained and that the compensation has been credited to their bank accounts.  


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