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X-Press Pearl disaster: Interim report on total damages next week

20 Nov 2021

  • X-Press Pearl wreck salvage contract awarded
By Yoshitha Perera  The committee appointed to estimate the full extent of damages caused by the MV X-Press Pearl disaster is expected to present its interim report on 30 November, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairman Dharshani Lahandapura told The Sunday Morning. She said the 40-member expert committee was headed by a senior professor of environmental economics.  “The Resolve Marine salvage company was awarded the tender to clean the debris on the seabed by the vessel's operators, X-Press Feeders. Some 338 pieces of wreckage, probably linked to the ship, that were dispersed around the seabed have been recovered,” she noted. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said the Government had distributed Rs. 328 million, out of the Rs. 720 million received as compensation, among fishermen in the Colombo, Kalutara, and Gampaha Districts who were affected by the disaster. Meanwhile, Justice Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC had informed officials from the MEPA, Navy, and National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) to remain vigilant about the possibilities of an oil spill from the wrecked MV X-Press Pearl. Sabry had further noted that the public had a right to know the specifics and scope of the damage caused by the MV X-Press vessel disaster, as well as the compensation the Sri Lankan Government will get.  The MV X-Press Pearl ship caught fire on 20 May, around nine nautical miles from the Colombo Harbour, after having anchored there just a few hours prior. Following an explosion on 24 May, the fire spread, and several containers onboard the vessel fell into the sea, spilling contaminants such as plastic pellets into the ocean. According to the MEPA, the tragedy has resulted in varying amounts of pollution throughout the coast from Mannar in the Northern Province, to Kirinde in the Southern Province.  


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