A fishing vessel valued at Rs. 520 million that was brought down to Sri Lanka by a foreign company 03 years ago is reportedly laying in a dilapidated condition at the Modara Fisheries Harbour due to a delay in a court case related to it.
According to Mawbima, the vessel had been brought down and registered in Sri Lanka by a foreign company in 2019.
The vessel had revised onboard electrical power from two generators within it, as the two generators had broken down, water collected due to heavy rains remain within the vessel, with no power available to pump it out, it is learnt.
Even though such a vessel can obtain electricity from the National Grid for higher payment and a request in this regard had been made by the owner of the vessel, the authorities have failed to respond as yet.
The foreign company had filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department pertaining to a third party attempting to take ownership of the vessel by using forged documents.
Thereafter, a case had been filed at the Colombo Commercial High Court in May 2020. However, a delay in court proceedings had resulted in the vessel being anchored at the harbour over the last three years.
Despite the fishing vessel requiring renovation, the foreign company is unable to carry out such work due to a court order prohibiting the vessel from being moved and hence, requires to be anchored at the harbour until a verdict is issued on the case. (NewsWire)