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SL divided in fighting X-Press Pearl disaster case
Saman Indrajith
The evaluation of the long-term damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl disaster has come to a standstill as the members of the committee that estimates the damage had not been given the letters of appointment for 2023, SJB MP Ajith Mannapperuma told Parliament yesterday (21), presenting the report on MV X-Press Pearl of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development.
MP Mannapperuma said that by November 2021, the damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl had been estimated at 6.5 billion U.S dollars.
“However, the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development believes that the damage should be calculated for five years,” he said.
The government had undertaken to refund money spent on investigations, the SJB MP said. “But those in charge of estimates, and testing, are worried that they might never get reimbursed if they spend money out of pocket. The Marine Environment Protection Authority and the Attorney General’s Department also didn’t have the best relations. There are hardly any discussions and this has had a negative impact,” MP Mannapperuma said.
On September 2020, MT New Diamond caught fire off the western coast of Sri Lanka but a Lessons Learnt Committee was not appointed, he said. MP Mannapperuma said that this was a major error on the part of the then government.
“We didn’t have a proper procedure. The Sectoral Oversight Committee recommends that the government appoints a Lessons Learnt Committee on MT New Diamond and MV X-Press Pearl disasters and come up with a standard operating procedure (SOP) on how to handle such disasters. We have not signed a number of international treaties. For example, annex six of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). We have not signed the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks. We need to sign these conventions,” he said.
MP Mannapperuma said that a number of institutions must work together when dealing with such situations. However, during the MV X-Press Pearl disaster some institutions tried to dictate terms to others, he said. “So we need to establish a strong institution like a presidential commission that could link and direct these institutions,” he said.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that all estimates on the damage caused by MV X-Press Pearl was on the area between Negombo and Panadura. “However, the damage is not limited to this areas. A few days ago, some grease and plastic pellets were found in Puttalam. People think these are from the same ship. I suggest you get the Minister of Environment also involved. MEPA, Ministry of Environment and AG’s Department must all work together. I also suggest we expand the scope of the estimates of the disaster,” he said.
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Sun directly overhead Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala, Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon today (01)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (01) are Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala,
Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon.
… stresses need for action if claims were proved false
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought a clarification from Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne regarding several allegations against Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, in Parliament, recently.
In a letter dated 31 August, Jayasekera has asked the Speaker whether he received any documentary evidence from MPs in support of the allegations at issue. The SJB MP has also inquired about the steps taken by the Speaker regarding the allegations and whether the issue had been taken up with the relevant agencies authorised to probe the assets of the CJ and members of his family.
MP Jayasekera confirmed that he had raised the issue with the Speaker, following the accusations relating to the high profile X-Press Pearl case, which received significant public attention in the recent past.
The Kurunegala District MP has also asked the Speaker whether the latter contemplated taking action in case the allegations were proved false to ensure that the dignity of the Chief Justice and the judiciary was safeguarded.
Among the issues raised by MP Jayasekera are the acquisition of valuable property in Colombo by the CJ’s son, the circumstances in which he was able to procure the property, as well as accusations regarding the CJ’s birth certificate, marriage certificate and birth certificates of his children.
Navy Chief Vice Admiral Damian Fernando held a series of strategic-level discussions with senior Indian defence and military officials during a three-day official visit to New Delhi. He returned on Sunday (30).
Navy Headquarters said that the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen maritime security cooperation between the two Navies in support of security in the Indian Ocean region. They also exchanged views on expanding training opportunities and capacity-building programmes, as well as other areas of bilateral importance.
During his visit to New Delhi, Vice Admiral Fernando also held official discussions with India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and defence industry representatives. Discussions at these meetings focused on bilateral defence cooperation, joint training programmes, and opportunities to enhance air and maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
As part of efforts to further expand cooperation in naval training and professional development, Vice Admiral Fernando also met Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India’s Southern Naval Command, at its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala. The two sides discussed existing naval training exchange programmes and opportunities for introducing and expanding further training initiatives. The meeting followed the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy’s visit to INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy’s training establishment where he previously completed the Long Gunnery and Missile Course.
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Sun directly overhead Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala, Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon today (01)
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