Eight fisher societies in Hendala and Pamunugama have called on the newly elected Government to take measures to pay the balance compensation to the fisher families who were affected due to the MV X Press Pearl container ship ablaze that occurred over three years ago in Sri Lankan waters off Colombo outer harbour.
The Singapore registered container ship had 1,486 containers including chemical filled containers. They were immediately removed before the fire spread.
The Fisheries Department, the Environmental Ministry, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Authority and the National Aquatic and Research Authority (NARA) conducted investigations into the disaster.
According to reports, the Singaporean insurance company has already paid US $ 4.5 million as compensation to Sri Lanka on three occasions.
The decision to lift the ban on fishing in the affected ocean area was also stopped considering the health risk due to the chemical substances, garbage and other damaged objects which were on the ocean bed.
Representing fisher societies, the Fishermen’s Rights Association (FRA) President Jayasiri Wickramarachchi told Sunday Observer Business that 100 percent of the fisher community countrywide cast their vote for the newly elected President and therefore, called on the new Government to give a lasting solution to affected fisher families.
He said a large number of victimised fisher folk at Hendala, Pamunugama, Wattala, Dikovita and Kepumgoda are still awaiting for the balance compensation from the Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) or any other responsible state organisation. Meanwhile, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has also expressed concern over the disaster and said the balance compensation amount should be claimed from the insurance company in Singapore.
