X-Press Pearl disaster: SC orders non-state parties to pay USD 1 Billion

Published : 24 July 2025 12:21 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 34 Bookmark

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In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court today ordered the non-state parties involved in the X-Press Pearl disaster to make an initial payment of USD 1 billion within one year as compensation for the damages caused.

The Court further ordered that such payments should be paid to the Secretary to the Treasury.

The Supreme Court five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Justice Shiran Gooneratne, Justice Achala Wengappuli and Justice Priyantha Fernando also directed to establish a MV X-Press Pearl Compensation Commission under the Chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice Gamini Amarasekera.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that former State Minister for Urban Development and Coast Conservation Nalaka Godahewa is responsible for his failure to take supervisory measures and thereby violated the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.

Comments - 34

Comments - X-Press Pearl disaster: SC orders non-state parties to pay USD 1 Billion

Anura Thursday, 24 July 2025 12:38 PM

No compensation is going to be paid. Shouting in the air.

60 33

MAKES NO SENSE TO ME, UNLESS NOTIFIED WHO WERE THOSE THAT EXPECTED TO GET COMPENSATED!! Thursday, 24 July 2025 02:02 PM

ANURA, COMPENSATION TO THE DEAD SEA LIVING FISH AND ALL OTHER SPECIES LIVING IN THE OCEAN!!. CAN YOU NAME WHO YOU EXPECTED TO GET COMPENSATION??. DIDN'T FOLLOW THIS ISSUEOVER THE YEARS, SO CONFUSION.COM AS TO WHO ANURA IS REFERING TO!!.

15 3

D P P Prasad Thursday, 24 July 2025 01:01 PM

If Godahewa in his capacity as the state minister is responsible for the violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens. He will be in trouble Subsequently to this significant judgement If another indictment is ever filed against him. he can also play carom with old cronies in walikada government boardinghouse

1 23

BBM Thursday, 24 July 2025 01:51 PM

Name them.

1 16

Paul Cole Thursday, 24 July 2025 02:39 PM

sri lankans rubbing their hands in glee for a pie in the sky event...!!!!

9 13

saman Thursday, 24 July 2025 02:39 PM

OK, Nalaka Godahewa is responsible. So what punitive action is going to be imposed on him for neglecting his official duties

0 24

Mahila Thursday, 24 July 2025 02:42 PM

Possibly Nothing but, Veritable Pipe Dream at its best!!?? If at all to appease the Victims, NW shore fisherman!!??

3 7

Yohan Thursday, 24 July 2025 02:55 PM

They will not pay and nothing can be done from here. Lol

8 11

Realistica Adams Friday, 25 July 2025 07:24 AM

Pacha Yohan, they will be in contempt of court if they fail to pay. Even MS had to pay and Pujit J. What happened to Aloysius who didn’t pay. Better be careful when you try to make a joke of court decisions and SC is the highest court in SL.

0 2

Dr Tissa Fernando Thursday, 24 July 2025 03:33 PM

What kind of supervision Nalala Godahewa did not do? Is this an attempt by Pacha government to pass the blame on that government for the disaster?

35 13

Pus Wedilla Thursday, 24 July 2025 03:53 PM

Supreme Anarchy

2 7

Dr Tissa Fernando Thursday, 24 July 2025 04:53 PM

Who are these non state parties, is this another Kekille judgement? What about those frauds relating to compensation from the ship owners which the Pacha party was talking about during their campaign? Looks like many have forgotten all those pachas

21 14

Sam Thursday, 24 July 2025 05:04 PM

Check the local agent for the shipping company, will get who was after the money

1 6

liyanage Thursday, 24 July 2025 05:04 PM

Supreme court 5 bench ruling, They ca can seize vessels.

1 7

Cassie Thursday, 24 July 2025 05:53 PM

A billion DOLLARS??! Sounds more like a money grab than a realistic amount that they would actually pay.

10 9

NV Jen Thursday, 24 July 2025 06:09 PM

Another landmark ruling. When incompetent ministers and officials rule the roost, such bungling up's can be expected, similar to the disastrous drive towards bankruptcy.

3 13

Yohan Friday, 25 July 2025 08:48 AM

Stop day dreaming mate. That will be never paid by parent company. Lol

0 0

Realistica Adams Thursday, 24 July 2025 06:22 PM

Jealous or feel disillusioned because it’s the country that will get this money?

2 15

Dr Tissa Fernando Thursday, 24 July 2025 06:43 PM

It is just propaganda to boost Pacha government, nothing else. Who is there locally who could afford to pay USD 1 billion, and what is this for? What wastge role of these local parties pre and post disaster? Did Zunami also violate the fundamental rights? The SC should fine GOD for creating Zunami too.

24 10

Sajit Thursday, 24 July 2025 09:55 PM

You need to get into your primary school once again to regain your brain cells to work. Such a waste for this country and this globe.

1 8

Realistica Adams Friday, 25 July 2025 07:16 AM

Pacha Dr, there are enough crony capitalists in SL who have well over 1m USD. Don’t pretend, your comments indicate your support for them.

0 1

Sanga Friday, 25 July 2025 08:24 AM

Such a waste of life you are!

0 1

TJ Thursday, 24 July 2025 07:03 PM

Who are these non-state parties? Do they have the resources to support such a large amount? By the by, I remember the former justice WR once telling the parliament that a sum of US$250m was transferred to an individual's bank account in the UK as part of an unofficial settlement in connection with the Xpress Pearl disaster. Does this $1B include that $250m also?

4 3

Gt Thursday, 24 July 2025 08:13 PM

Good that they are pursuing this also who in uk accepted 200m as compensation?

0 12

Truth Thursday, 24 July 2025 08:21 PM

Divinely credited, valuable than dollar treasures...

1 2

Kays Thursday, 24 July 2025 10:19 PM

Everyone seems to have missed the rulings on the then Attorney General in this judgment?

0 8

mal.com Friday, 25 July 2025 08:14 AM

Also the earlier naming of king pins responsible for bankruptcy.

0 0

james Friday, 25 July 2025 12:59 AM

Unless the shipping company has assets in Sri Lanka that can be confiscated, they are not legally compelled to pay this

0 0

Political Sira Friday, 25 July 2025 05:24 AM

Patcha Tissa at it again.

0 1

P Kunchithapathan Friday, 25 July 2025 06:56 AM

This amount 1 billion USD is peanuts for the immense damage caused to the marine environment. When Bangladesh and Indian ports refused entry only Sri Lanka's port allowed entry to the vessel from which the acid was leaking which is a betrayal and deserve severe punishment. "Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said he got hold of details regarding the transfer of US $ 250 million to the foreign account of a Sri Lankan as a bribe to obstruct the legal process related to X-Press Pearl disaster, and directed the police to initiate investigations into it."

0 0

Nimal 1 Friday, 25 July 2025 07:13 AM

Undoubtedly a lot of underhand dealings would have taken place at the Sri Lanka end.

0 0

sss Friday, 25 July 2025 07:39 AM

The magnitude of these crimes over decades deserve a special tribunal to expedite these devastating cases. Currently the government is naming the names and follow a snail pace judicial process which is also handicapped by the judges foot dragging due to their connections with these perpetrators. All these lead to creating a potent and angry force that is hell bent on sabotaging the government

0 0

Kays Friday, 25 July 2025 08:22 AM

Would this be the first time that the Government's lawyer representing State respondents in the same case has also been found to have violated fundamental rights? The AG in question has retired and was recently appointed a Diplomat? How does this sit with the ideals of 'Clean Sri Lanka' and 'System Change.' Can the long suffering public expect a thunderous uproar from the usually vociferously civil society and NGO funded think tanks activists that supposedly support the above ideals? Hopefully they might wake up when they read the full 361 page landmark judgement.

0 0

L Jayasingha Friday, 25 July 2025 11:17 AM

When the supreme court gives a judgement a soverign government can exercise its rights and powers by siezing the assets of the party that should pay if the dont.This means any vessel owned by the shipping company and its agents can be taken as a lien until the payment is made. Many dont seem to understand the powers of a government no matter how small the nation may be.

0 1

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