Govt. consults AG over Singapore company’s refusal to pay X-Press Pearl compensation

Colombo, Sept. 29 (Daily Mirror) - In the wake of the Singapore shipping company refusing to pay the Supreme Court-ordered compensation of US $ 1 billion over the X-Press Pearl disaster, the government has consulted the Attorney General on the next step to be taken, a Minister said yesterday.

X-Press Feeders chief executive Shmuel Yoskovitz said earlier as reported by AFP that he believed paying would have wide-ranging implications on global shipping and "set a dangerous precedent".

The company said in a statement that it continued to “seek engagements with relevant Sri Lankan authorities”.

The Supreme Court in a 24 July judgement on the 2021 X-Press Pearl casualty ordered the commercial parties to the vessel - EOS Shipping Pte Ltd, bareboat charterer Killiney Shipping Pte Ltd, time charterer Sea Consortium Pte Ltd, and local agents Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt Ltd) – to make $1 billion in compensation payments within a year. The first instalment of $250 million was ordered to be paid by 23 September 2025. A further $500 million should be paid within six months of the judgement, and the final $250 million within one year.

Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi told Daily Mirror that the government awaits the Attorney General's opinion.