Further pre-trial-conference fixed for March 28

The case filed against eight accused including the captain of X-Press Pearl vessel which caught fire and sank in the seas off the Colombo Port while carrying nitric acid and other chemicals, was fixed for further pre-trial-conference on March 28 by the Colombo High Court.

The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta.

Previously, indictments were served to the other six accused in the case filed by the Attorney General against eight accused including the captain of the X-Press Pearl, Russian national Vitaly Tyutkalo,

Tyutkalo was the captain when the vessel caught fire while transporting 186 containers, including several containers containing chemicals, in May 2021.

The case had been filed against eight accused including the captain of the vessel, the local representative company of the vessel, Sea Consortium Lanka and its directors including, Arjuna Indrajith Thisera Hettiarachi.

The case has been filed against the eight accused under eight charges under the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act and the Penal Code.

On a previous occasion, the captain was arrested by the CID and produced before the High Court stating that he had neglected responsibility for the incident.