Sri Lankan Environmentalists Sue Government, Operator Over harm caused by the MV X-Press Pearl's fire

A group of Sri Lankan climate and fisherman activists has launched a lawsuit against the government and the operator of the MV X-Press Pearl over the disaster, which caused significant environmental damage.

According to the Colombo Page, the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ), an environmental rights organisation, and fishermen's activists filed the case of a fundamental right before the top court on Friday, alleging environmental harm caused by the MV X-Press Pearl's fire.

The petitioners claimed that local authorities should've been sufficient to thwart the fire onboard the MV X-Press Pearl, which was transporting hazardous chemicals and plastics, and demanded that the captain and crew be detained, as well as criminal and civil action against the ship's owners and agents.

Furthermore, they also demanded the government to enact appropriate rules and regulations to avert such calamities. According to the CEJ, the ship's crew was aware of an acid leak on May 11 before entering Sri Lankan seas, and local authorities should not have permitted the vessel to enter.

During a foreign media conference, the CEO of the firm that owns the X-Press Pearl ship expressed regret for the mishap.

"The firm was unable to offer the required employees to carry out duties such as cleaning to minimise the damage due to current travel limitations, but had previously taken efforts to supply the required mechanical facilities," he added.

The petitioners want the Supreme Court to order the respondents to compensate the fishermen and the fishing industry, as well as compensate the tourism sector and those involved in the tourism sector in the affected areas, for their losses.

The petition asks the authorities to appoint an expert committee to assess the potential and health implications for the public, and to submit preliminary and final reports to the courts, instructing the authorities to take the necessary action as recommended therein, in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act No. 35 of 2008 or other laws, and instructing the authorities to take the necessary action as advised therein.

Moreover, the petitioners also urged the judge to order the 11th respondent, X-Express Feeders, and the 12th respondent, C Consortium Lanka, to dispose of plastic nurdles and other debris from the MV X-Press Pearl ship in an environmentally friendly manner or to re-export the material.

Earlier this week, a Singapore-registered cargo ship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka in an attempt to pull it to deeper seas.