On Monday, July 10, the Supreme Court issued an order requiring a report on the steps taken to compensate persons harmed by the X-Press Pearl accident and the status of those efforts to be delivered to the court by September 15 at the latest.
When the case was heard in court this morning (10), a Supreme Court bench made up of Justices Murdhu Fernando, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando issued the pertinent order.
On behalf of the fishing community, an attorney expressed concerns that they have not yet received compensation for the significant losses they sustained as a result of the X-Press Pearl disaster in 2021. However, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, speaking on behalf of the Attorney General, reassured that steps are being taken in this direction.
Justice Murdhu Fernando, the chair of the court, then ruled that the procedure in this matter must be accelerated and instructed the attorneys representing the fishing community to file compensation petitions with other pertinent organizations, such as the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).
On October 5 and 6, the court will hear the pertinent petition once more.
