Officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) had allowed the fire that broke out on MV X-Press Pearl to spread onboard without containing it, the Colombo High Court has been informed.
The Court was informed in this regard by President’s Counsel (PC) Sarath Jayamanne, who appeared on behalf of the Captain of the vessel, Russian national Tyutkalo Vitaly, who was presented in court after being arrested yesterday.
Sarath Jayamanne further said the SLPA officials acted in this manner in the hopes of obtaining compensation for the damages caused by the vessel.
The Captain of the ship had informed the SLPA about the fire on 20 May and SLPA officials had boarded the ship at 4.30 p.m. on the same day, following which an inspection had taken place for over an hour, he revealed to the court.
Meanwhile, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General’s (AG) Department, Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon accused the Captain and his crew of having hidden the acid leakage in a container aboard the vessel from the Sri Lankan authorities when entering the country’s territorial waters.
Stating that the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has said the damage to the country’s marine environment has both short and long-term effects, Tennakoon further said that due to the wrecked ship, a situation has arisen where other ships cannot cross through that sea area.
Following the court proceedings the Captain of the vessel was released on a personal bail of Rs. 02 million yesterday, while the case has been fixed for the 1st of July. (NewsWire)
