Justice Minister corrects X-Press Pearl compensation faux pas 

Justice Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe 

Minister of Justice Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday clarified that the compensation offered by the insurers of MV X-Press Pearl was $ 878 000 and not $ 850 000 million as claimed by him in Parliament on Friday. 

The Minister recognised that his response was in error, acknowledging that the inconsistency in numbers arose from addressing a different question while already engaged in answering another.

He said that the dollar amount comes to around Rs. 285 million, and furthermore, the insurer has also agreed to provide an extra Rs. 16 million.

This sum is intended to serve as compensation for the fishing community impacted by the X-Pearl marine disaster. It will be allocated to the Marine Environment Protection Authority, as confirmed by the Ministry of Justice.

The Minister noted that the insurance company has consented to offer this compensation while the legal case is still ongoing in the Singapore court, with no negative impact on the proceedings. The insurers have offered compensation through the case filed in the Commercial High Court in London under the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims.

Previously Rajapakshe said the Government was determined to fight the case in the UK as well. However they have now decided to accept the compensation offered by the insurer.