A government decision to establish a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to probe the X-Press Pearl (2021) maritime disaster has received the endorsement of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), which emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in what it calls “the most devastating marine pollution event in the country’s history.”

 In a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, senior attorney-at-law, Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, Senior Legal Adviser to the Centre, has highlighted the urgent need to restore public confidence in the environmental damage assessment process, which has remained stagnant since 2022.

 “The X-Press Pearl disaster caused irreversible damage to Sri Lanka’s marine environment,” Dabare wrote. “The release of toxic chemicals, burnt plastic pellets, and hazardous waste have had a far-reaching impact on our coastal ecosystems and biodiversity.”

 The environmental group has expressed disappointment that even four years after the 2021 incident, no final report on the extent of damage has been made public. “The assessment process was abruptly stopped, and the expert committee appointed for the task was dissolved in 2022. The public has the right to know the truth,” the CEJ has said in its letter.

 The X-Press Pearl, a Singapore-flagged vessel, caught fire off the coast of Colombo in May 2021 while carrying a cargo of chemicals, including nitric acid and plastic pellets. The sinking of the vessel and the subsequent spill led to one of the worst environmental disasters in the region, prompting widespread criticism of the government’s slow and opaque response.

Environmentalists and civil society organizations have long called for an independent investigation, citing alleged misconduct and corruption involving public officials and former ministers responsible for handling the aftermath of the spill.

 “From the beginning, we observed irregularities and a lack of transparency in how state institutions managed the crisis. The people deserve a clear explanation of what happened and who is responsible,” said Hemantha Withanage, a leading environmental scientist and Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice.

 The proposed commission, to be established under the Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 7 of 1978, is expected to include legal experts, environmental scientists, and representatives of civil society. The Centre urged that its mandate should include:

 1. Reinstating the damage assessment committee and completing the pending scientific evaluation of environmental, biodiversity, and socio-economic losses.

 2. Publishing the final report for public scrutiny.

 3. Investigating institutional misconduct and corruption.

 4. Recommending actionable measures against those found responsible.

  “We strongly recommend that the Commission include independent professionals from environmental law and civil society to ensure a credible and transparent process,” said Withanage.

The CEJ has warned that the environmental and socio-economic consequences of the spill continue to affect coastal communities and marine life. “The damage was not limited to 2021. Its impact will persist for generations. The time for action is now,” the organization stressed.

The government’s move comes amidst increasing public pressure and international concern over the handling of the X-Press Pearl disaster, with critics accusing authorities of failing to pursue adequate compensation or enforce environmental accountability.

By Ifham Nizam ✍️