Committee recommends careful use of balance X-Press Pearl funds

• Recommends that a comprehensive report be submitted detailing the total compensation received to date, the amount paid to fishermen, funds spent on coastal protection, and the current balance of remaining funds

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has recommended that any remaining compensation funds related to the damage caused by the X-Press Pearl vessel be utilized exclusively for purposes directly linked to the environmental and economic impact of the disaster.

The Sectoral Oversight Committee has focused its attention on the progress of distributing compensation received in relation to the damage caused by the X-Press Pearl vessel, including payments made to fishermen and expenditure on coastal conservation activities.  

The Committee recommended that a comprehensive report be submitted detailing the total compensation received to date, the amount paid to fishermen, funds spent on coastal protection, and the current balance of remaining funds.  
These matters were discussed when the Committee met in Parliament last week under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy.  

During the meeting, the Committee also inquired into the progress of legal proceedings instituted in Sri Lanka and Singapore concerning the damage caused by the vessel. Attention was drawn to the manner in which legal action in Singapore had been initiated independently of proceedings in Sri Lanka. 

The Chairperson further emphasized the need to organize a briefing programme for all Members of Parliament on future developments related to the issue.  Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Navaratne, Chithral Fernando, Bhagya Sri Herath, and Aboobucker Athambawa participated in the meeting.  

Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ministry of Justice and National Integration, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Central Environmental Authority, the Marine Environment Protection Authority, and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency were also present.