Paid X-Press Pearl interim compensation is only 0.0139% of due compensation
The estimated amount of compensation for the damage caused to the environment by the X-Press Pearl, which was destroyed by fire near the port of Colombo, is nearly $ 640,000,000 and for that, according to the Judicial Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, the country has received only an amount of eight hundred and ninety thousand US dollars ($890,000) as an interim compensation.
Eight hundred and ninety thousand dollars ($890,000) is approximately 0.01390625% of the compensation owed to this country.
Although the government led by Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa boasted about the interim compensation received, it is a very meager amount.
In the meantime, Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa had stated in the Parliament last April that a certain person had taken a bribe of $ 250 million for obstructing the compensation for the damage caused to the maritime security system of the country by the X-Press Pearl ship. The government has not yet taken steps to reveal who he is.
Political commentators say that the government is promoting the amount of eight hundred and ninety thousand US dollars ($890,000) only with the aim of deceiving the people of the country to make them forget about the assessments to be received.
It is said that the said interim compensation has been given only to cover the expenses incurred by the Maritime Environment Protection Authority for cleaning up the coastline of Sri Lanka contaminated by the fire of the Express Pearl ship.
