News
Travel ban imposed on Captain of fire-stricken super tanker
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohamed Mihar imposed a travel ban on the Captain of the oil tanker ‘MT New Diamond’, Greek national Sterio Ilias yesterday.
The Captain of the fire-stricken oil tanker ‘MT New Diamond’, which caught fire off the East coast received the order when he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, yesterday.
The Attorney General requested the Colombo Chief Magistrate to remand the Captain under provisions of the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act of 2008.
During yesterday’s hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, requested the court to remand the captain of the vessel, citing concerns that the Greek national might abscond.
The judge put off the decision pertaining to the request till 2pm yesterday.
Later the judge announced the imposition of the travel ban.
On September 17, Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage issued a notice to the Greek Captain to appear before the court yesterday considering a request made by DSG Dileepa Peiris.
The Attorney General instructed the CID to name the Captain as a suspect involved in committing offences under the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act No. 35 of 2008.
The Panamanian flagged tanker was carrying 270,000 tonnes of crude and 1,700 tonnes of diesel to Paradip port in India from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait when the fire erupted in the engine room on Sept 03 morning in the deep sea about 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point in Ampara.
One member of the ship’s crew was killed and another seriously injured crew member was rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy. Another three Greek and 16 Philippine crew members of the tanker were rescued by another merchant vessel plying nearby and safely brought ashore by the Navy.
The vessel is currently located in deep seas around 67 nautical miles away from the coast of Batticaloa.
Meanwhile, the owners of the Panamanian Crude Oil Tanker ‘MT New Diamond’ have agreed to fully settle, the compensation claim of government stakeholders amounting to Rs.442 million in costs incurred to douse the flame.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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