FRA seeks fresh probe on MV X-press pearl disaster

The Fishermen’s Rights Association (FRA) requested the new Government to carry out a fresh investigation regarding the payment of balance compensation amount to fisher families who lost their livelihood activities due to the MV X-press pearl ship that caught fire in the Sri Lankan ocean waters off Colombo outer harbor four years ago.

The FRA says this matter was also discussed at a meeting conducted by Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath and accordingly a fresh probe into the damages would be conducted shortly. Speaking to Daily News Business FRA, President Jayasiri Wickramarachchi said the new government should take action against officials who are responsible to pay the balance compensation to victimized fisherfolk.

He said a large number of fisher families in Hendala, Pamunugama, Wattala, Dikowita and Kepungoda areas were affected due to the ship blaze. The Singaporean registered container ship caught fire in the Colombo outer harbor with 1,486 containers including chemical filled containers and the containers were immediately removed to safer places. The investigations were also conducted by the Fisheries Department, the Environmental Ministry, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Authority and the National Aquatic and Research Authority (NARA) and the Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).

According to reports the Singaporean insurance company who insured the ship has already paid USD 4.5 million as compensation to Sri Lanka in three occasions.The Fisheries Department also banned fishing in the affected ocean area after considering the health risk due to the chemical substances and other garbage that were in the ocean bed.Meanwhile Wickramarachchi also said majority countrywide fisher folk including the fisher societies in Hendala and Pamunugama also requested the new Government to present a lasting solution to this matter.

They say the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has also expressed concern over the disaster and asked authorities to pay the balance compensation amount that should be claimed from the Insurance Company in Singapore.

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