AG’s dept. delays filing case against Express Pearl: State Minister

Attorney General’s Department has delayed filing a case against the company that owned the ill-fated ship Xpress Pearl that caught fire while in Sri Lankan waters, State Minister Arundika Fernando told Parliament today.

Responding to a question raised by Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa, the state Minister said his ministry has sent all documents pertaining to the case to the Attorney General’s Department, but a case has not been filed to date.

“Sri Lanka will be able to claim at least US$4 billion and a case will be filed soon,” the State Minister said.

“The details of damage that was caused by the ship which caught fire, is yet to be prepared. However an interim report has been handed over to the Australian company who is in charge of claiming damages.” he added.

He said some 11,061 fishermen families from Gampaha District, 3050 bbúfamilies from Colombo and 701 families from Kalutara were affected by the tragedy. “Some 4888 fishermen have lost their livelihood as a result of the disaster,” he revealed.

“Some 1726 metric tons of rubble pellets from the ship have been collected till this date, while arrangements have been made to salvage ship from the sea. The company which owns the ship has given this task to a foreign company. Also the Minister revealed that former state Minister Nalaka Godahewa and the then Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jayanath Kolambage are responsible for the ship New Diamond which caused horrible environment disaster earlier. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)