Govt to re-launch investigation into 2021 X-Press Pearl Disaster
October 28, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government is set to revisit the 2021 X-Press Pearl maritime disaster with a fresh investigation, announced Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday (27).
This inquiry comes amid concerns that previous administrations have yet to file claims for the substantial civil liability costs associated with the disaster.
In the aftermath of the incident, Sri Lanka is expected to receive around US$ 810,696 to cover beach cleaning and debris removal expenses, while the claims for broader environmental and economic damages have yet to be formally lodged.
The ship’s owner has agreed to cover this cleaning expenditure for the period from 1 July 2023 to 29 February 2024.
However, the government has yet to secure compensation for extensive civil liabilities, including damages to the environment, economic losses, and future restoration efforts.
The incident on 20 May 2021 involved the MV X-Press Pearl, a cargo vessel laden with hazardous chemicals, which ignited off Sri Lanka’s western coast.
The resulting spill of toxic materials, plastics, and pollutants devastated the country’s coastal ecosystems.
Efforts were made by the previous government to address this crisis legally, filing a lawsuit in Singapore with the assistance of the Attorney General’s Department, an Australian law firm, and six international experts to assess the full scope of damages.
The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has identified an oil slick of approximately 0.51 km², stretching over 4.3 km, around the wreckage site. While the insurance company for the vessel has provided Sri Lanka with US$ 7.85 million in compensation thus far, the MEPA continues to assess the true extent of the environmental impact.
The authority is also awaiting updates from the Attorney General’s Department regarding the Singapore litigation, highlighting an ongoing lack of coordination on legal proceedings for further damages.
