Nine fisher societies in Hendala and Pamunugama have called on the Government to take immediate steps to pay the remaining compensation to families who were affected following the MV X-Press Pearl container ship disaster three years ago in the Colombo outer harbour.
It has been reported that a Singaporean insurance company had already paid US dollars 4.5 million as compensation to Sri Lanka on three occasions and accordingly the remaining compensation would be paid later.
The Singapore registered container ship had caught fire off the Colombo outer Harbour with 1,486 containers including about 25 with chemicals. Some of them were immediately moved to safer areas by the authorities.
The Fisheries Department, the Environmental Ministry, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Authority and the National Aquatic and Research Authority (NARA) conducted investigations into the disaster.
The decision to ban fishing in the affected ocean area was also taken as soon as the tragedy occurred due to the health risk of the dangerous chemicals, garbage and other damaged objects mixing with the ocean water.
Mutwal Fishermen Protection Association (MFPA), Chairman Sandasiri Peris told the media that a large number of victimised fisherfolk at Hendala, Pamunugama, Wattala, Dikovita and Kepumgoda are still awaiting the remaining compensation from the state authorities. The Centre for Environmental Justice has also expressed concern over the disaster and said the remaining compensation should be claimed from the Singaporean insurance company and they should be given to the affected fisherfolk as soon as possible.
