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Sea Consortium Lanka probed X-Press Pearl incident

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By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing Sri Lanka’s worst ever maritime ecological disaster has recorded the statements from three top management level employees of Sea Consortium Lanka, the local agent of the ill-fated X-Press Pearl, owned by X-Press Feeders.

They have been questioned on their failure to alert the relevant local authorities as regards the chemical leak on the vessel, in spite of being informed by Tyutkalo Vitaly, the Russian Captain of the vessel, well over a week before X-Press Pearl entered Sri Lankan waters. Investigations have revealed that the e-mails sent by the Russian, informing the local agent of the developments onboard the vessel, had been deleted.

Sea Consortium Lanka, a Board of Investment (BoI), registered venture is the Sri Lankan extension of X-Press Feeders. The Sea Consortium is part of the Setmil Group of Companies.

Police spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, who is also the senior officer in charge of its Legal Division, told The Island that they were among 32 persons, including members of the crew, questioned by the CID.

DIG Rohana said that the questioning of Sea Consortium Lanka personnel was continuing. Police headquarters didn’t release names of those so far questioned by the CID.

Both Chairman of the SLPA, retired General Daya Ratnayake, and Director General of Merchant Shipping, Ajith Seneviratne, yesterday told The Island that they were aware of the ongoing police investigation into the alleged failure on the part of the local agent. Asked whether, in his capacity as DG, Merchant Shipping, Seneviratne had taken action in respect of the local agent, the top official said that they had not reached that stage. Seneviratne said that investigations were continuing.

DG, Merchant Shipping is the authority for issuing licences to local agents on the recommendation of ship owners.

DIG Rohana said that the Government Analyst’s Department had informed the CID that it needed the assistance of the manufacturer of the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) of the vessel to read its data.

According to information provided to the court by Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon, emails from the captain to X-Press Feeders’ local agent Sea Consortium had been deleted by the latter.

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has moved the Supreme Court against the Sea Consortium Lanka as well as operators of the vessel, X-Press Feeders. CEJ and three others, including its Executive Director Withanage Don Hemantha Ranjith Sisira Kumara have, in a fundamental rights application filed in terms of Articles 17 and 126 of the Constitution, in respect of the X-Press Pearl affair, named X-Press Feeders and its local agent Sea Consortium Lanka as 11th and 12th respondents. They were among 13 respondents, including the Attorney General.

The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl sank on June 2, 9.5 nautical miles North West of Colombo port, the day after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed that it be towed to deeper seas. Shipping sources told The Island that the vessel had gone down where it had been since May 19 after entering Sri Lankan waters.

International news agencies reported that ports in Qatar and India had declined to offload the leaking acid container loaded in Jebel Ali, Dubai.

Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena didn’t answer his mobile phone.



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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