Payment of compensation to fisher-folks Govt. awaits money from X-PRESS PEARL: Douglas

• Sri Lanka had already claimed an interim compensation and will receive funds in two weeks
• Fishermen who have been affected will be paid compensation as soon as the government receives these funds

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Sri Lanka will receive funds from the company which owns X-PRESS PEARL ship as an initial compensation within two weeks for the destruction it has caused, Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda informed Parliament yesterday.    

Minister Devananda who was responding to a question raised by SJB MP- Kavinda Jayawardene said Sri Lanka had already claimed an interim compensation and will receive funds in two weeks. “Fishermen who have been affected will be paid compensation as soon as the government receives these funds,” the Minister said.   
The Minister refuted the claims that fish in the Sri Lankan waters cannot be consumed as they were contaminated. “ A false publicity drive is under way to scare the people. However, the notion that fish being contaminated and cannot be consumed is false,” he said.   

“ One could consume fish without any fear,” he added.   

• The Minister refuted the claims that fish in the Sri Lankan waters cannot be consumed as they were contaminated