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X-Press Pearl disaster: SL still awaiting response to its initial compensation claim
By Ifham Nizam
There has been no response so far from the Singapore flagged ship, X-Press Pearl owner and insurance brokers to Sri Lanka’s initial claim for compensation, an official said.
They have still not gone beyond saying the “damages caused will be assessed”, he said.
“We have asked the Singaporean government to exert pressure on the ship’s owner to expedite the process of removing the wreck of the gutted feeder vessel”, he further said.
Meanwhile, the committee studying the five sectors badly affected by the disaster has indicated that an initial assessment showed this was the biggest catastrophe to the country’s marine species and biodiversity.
Four experts from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) arrived in Colombo last week to share their inputs on the damage assessment and recovery process.
X-Press Feeders said in a recent statement that due to the exposed nature of the anchorage to the prevailing south westerly monsoon, it is likely that the wreck removal can only start after the adverse sea conditions subside. Caretaker services will remain on site until then.
The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) believes that the ship’s wreck would be cleared within three months.
State Minister, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, quoting experts assessing the damage, said Sri Lanka has to grapple with the worst plastic nurdles (small plastic pellets serving as a raw material in the manufacture of plastic products) disaster in its history.
Earlier, he held a discussions with foreign experts now in the country to help local teams assess the damages.
The nurdles are about the size of a lentil, and like anything tiny and round, they are hard to keep track of as they roll away and tumble into waterways. The wind can also blow them around, scientists pointed out.
“Sri Lanka is facing a serious issue because of the nurdles stored in 87 containers on board the X-Press Pearl”, they said.
According to the experts, a major part of the nurdles may have been destroyed by the fire, with around 40 per cent getting into the ocean to be washed ashore.
Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor (NSA) Sagala Ratnayaka led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier Security Summit held in Singapore from 2 – 4 June 2023.
The highly anticipated summit commenced on 2 June with a powerful Keynote address delivered by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Throughout the event, a series of plenary sessions delved into various crucial geo-political issues, encompassing the establishment of a stable and balanced Asia Pacific, the resolution of regional tensions, the evolution of maritime security in Asia, US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and China’s latest security initiatives, among other topics.
During the Special Session focusing on ‘Defence Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,’ Ratnayaka delivered an impactful statement, participating alongside representatives from India, Oman, France, and the United States. He emphasized the significance of keeping big power rivalries and external conflicts out of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Sri Lanka’s efforts in the United Nations to declare the region as a zone of peace. Furthermore, he underscored the country’s contributions to preserving freedom of navigation and over flight, stressing the crucial need for constructive dialogue among all stakeholders in the Indian Ocean region to pursue shared interests.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal raised by the Minister of Health to reduce the maximum retail price of 60 medicines by 16% with effect from 15.06.2023 and review the price of medicines every three months
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Sagala Ratnayaka leads Sri Lanka delegation to 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue
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