Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development held 19.03.2023 took into discussion the environmental damage and the recovery of compensation related to the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster that occurred on 19.05.2021 in Sri Lankan waters.

Representatives of Marine Environment Protection Authority, Central Environmental Authority, Attorney General's Department, Environmental Management and Assessment Committee scientists, marine and environmental legal experts Representatives representing the fishing community and environmental organizations were called before the Committee Chaired by Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma.

Whether the Civil suit to recover the estimated USD 6.2 billion in damages related to the damage caused by the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster should be filed in Singapore or in Sri Lanka was taken up for discussion at the Committee.

It was disclosed that an expert committee co-chaired by Prof. Prasanthi Gunawardene and Prof. Ajith De Alwis has provided an estimate of nearly USD 6.2 billion in relation to each of the sectors affected by this accident..

Expressing views, the Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority, Attorney- at - Law Mr. Asela Rekawa, said that a committee consisting of expert lawyers related to ocean law and other legal matters was appointed to take a decision regarding the transfer of a civil suit to get compensation related to this maritime disaster and that prosecution should be done in this country was the Committee decision. However, it was disclosed that the Cabinet has approved the litigation in Singapore and accordingly, the Attorney General's Department is proceeding on the matter. Moreover, according to the law, the litigation should be done within another 58 days, the officials of the Marine Environment Protection Authority pointed out.

Attention was also paid to who would take the responsibility if Sri Lanka suffered any disadvantage through the litigation process in Singapore.

The attention of the committee was also drawn to the suspension of money from the ship's insurance company for the activities such as beach cleaning and damage assessment, which are already being done by the Marine Environment Protection Authority.

Discussions were also held for not allowing the expert committee appointed to assess the damage caused in connection with the incident to go inside and near the ship under any circumstances.

Accordingly, it was decided to resummon the relevant parties before the Sectoral Oversight Committee in the future to further review matters such as discussing and settling the legal matters, obtaining financial facilities for the scientific committee for its research and removing the legal obstacles to reach the ship for research.