CEJ urges President to appoint commission to probe MV X-Press Pearl environmental disaster

12 July 2025 10:29 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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Colombo, July 12 (Daily Mirror) - The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate into the 2021 environmental disaster caused by the fire aboard the vessel MV X-Press Pearl.

In a statement issued by CEJ Legal Advisor, Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare, the organisation highlighted the massive marine damage that occurred when the container ship caught fire in May 2021, releasing hazardous chemicals and microplastics into Sri Lankan waters.

The CEJ expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the response by authorities, including former Ministers and government officials, and urged the President to establish a commission under the Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law No. 7 of 1978.

The organisation also recommended that the proposed commission include environmentalists, legal experts and social activists to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the irregularities and negligence that followed the disaster.

Comments - 6

Surrogate Saturday, 12 July 2025 11:12 AM

If they investigate this many rogues who drive the fanciest of cars and live in the plushest of apartments, fly first class and have turkey and lobsters everyday for dinner will be in the net. It’s .1% of the economic mafia that rules this country. I will be relived if the NPP catches them because not only this crime other crimes can surface.

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Damith W Saturday, 12 July 2025 12:16 PM

Well said

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Iwazaru Saturday, 12 July 2025 12:41 PM

The government needs to invesigate the Central Bank theft. This is priority number one.

2 8

saman Saturday, 12 July 2025 02:08 PM

Dear President Anura Kumara, we are waiting for justice for this case for the past 4 years. The bribery commission and the CID should investigate and question former Ministers and government officials. One day Wijedasa Rajapaksa mentioned in parliament about the advance of USD 250.0 million given to someone by the insurance company or the ship owner. This is to keep our mouth shut. Please start the investigation from there. Then all will come out. Dear Anura Kumara, we voted for you and NPP expecting that you will dig out these corruption. Our initial damage claim was USD 6.9 billion.

2 8

While children suffer malnutrition stop complaining about the sea Sunday, 13 July 2025 04:16 PM

The extensive corruption in the country is the cause. Now US is going to up the tariff rate to 30% because the endemic corrupt attitude to provide tax payer provided concessions to local business and farmers is ruining country. Bigger problem, for local children which needs far more attention, than this big ticket big show but useless effect request.

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Nirupa Saturday, 12 July 2025 09:00 PM

In Sri Lanka, since SWRD, no commission was able to pinpoint a person or persons for any form of mischief. Whether, arson, looting, murder, fire, theft, bribery corruption, land grab, etc. Even if caught, the presidential pardon is there for them. The country knows that the World famous Jaffna library was burnt down on the instigation of RANIL WICKREMASINGHE, Lalitha Athulathmudali, Garmini Corea and a few others. What happened. Nothing. On the other hand one became President of this country and gets a thumping pension.

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