X-Press Pearl: SJB files legal action in HC demanding $ 6.4 b in damages

The Main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday initiated legal action against the owners, operators, insurers and managers of MV X-Press Pearl responsible for the marine disaster which took place on 20 May 2021 off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The legal action was filed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardane together with several other parties including local fisher organisations. The plaintiffs are demanding the defendants named pay $ 6.4 billion to the Treasury as damages for the devastation caused by the disaster, identified as the worst of its kind in recent times.

The claimants have submitted this case to the Colombo High Court, citing Sections 2(1) (e), 2 (4), 3(1), and 4 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act No. 40 of 1983, in conjunction with the Marine Pollution Prevention Act No. 59 of 1981.

Defendants named in the case include EOS RO Ltd., the registered owner of the X-Press Pearl Vessel, Sea Consortium Ltd. (a third-party operator), X-Press Feeders Ltd. (the ship manager), Sea Consortium Lanka Ltd. (the local agent for Sea Consortium Ltd.), the London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Ltd. (the insurer), GAC Shipping Ltd., MV X-Press Pearl, and Three Eyes Capital Company Ltd.

The plaintiffs have asserted that they have grounds to sue the defendants and are seeking damages in the following amounts: $ 58,459,868.00 for the oil spill caused by M.V. X-Press Pearl, $ 56,875,158.64 for chemical pollution, $ 15,657,246.00 for air pollution, $ 2,298,415,634.00 for environmental damages, and $ 186,200,000.00 for losses incurred by the fishing industry.

Previously the plaintiffs had forwarded a letter of demand to the defendants asking them to pay $ 6.4 billion to the Treasury of the Government of Sri Lanka for the purpose of distributing it among the fishermen and other persons affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster. However, the parties have now initiated legal proceedings after the defendants failed to respond to their demands.The Main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday initiated legal action against the owners, operators, insurers and managers of MV X-Press Pearl responsible for the marine disaster which took place on 20 May 2021 off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The legal action was filed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardane together with several other parties including local fisher organisations. The plaintiffs are demanding the defendants named pay $ 6.4 billion to the Treasury as damages for the devastation caused by the disaster, identified as the worst of its kind in recent times.

The claimants have submitted this case to the Colombo High Court, citing Sections 2(1) (e), 2 (4), 3(1), and 4 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act No. 40 of 1983, in conjunction with the Marine Pollution Prevention Act No. 59 of 1981.

Defendants named in the case include EOS RO Ltd., the registered owner of the X-Press Pearl Vessel, Sea Consortium Ltd. (a third-party operator), X-Press Feeders Ltd. (the ship manager), Sea Consortium Lanka Ltd. (the local agent for Sea Consortium Ltd.), the London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Ltd. (the insurer), GAC Shipping Ltd., MV X-Press Pearl, and Three Eyes Capital Company Ltd.

The plaintiffs have asserted that they have grounds to sue the defendants and are seeking damages in the following amounts: $ 58,459,868.00 for the oil spill caused by M.V. X-Press Pearl, $ 56,875,158.64 for chemical pollution, $ 15,657,246.00 for air pollution, $ 2,298,415,634.00 for environmental damages, and $ 186,200,000.00 for losses incurred by the fishing industry.

Previously the plaintiffs had forwarded a letter of demand to the defendants asking them to pay $ 6.4 billion to the Treasury of the Government of Sri Lanka for the purpose of distributing it among the fishermen and other persons affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster. However, the parties have now initiated legal proceedings after the defendants failed to respond to their demands.