The insurer of the sunk X-Press Pearl vessel has agreed to pay another USD 2.5 million for the claims presented to and the said money is expected in a few days, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said.
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, she said the above payment is for the expenses incurred by the MEPA, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) and a few other institutions to clean the polluted sea area and the coastal belt from June 3 to August 31.
“Our claims for this period totalled USD 3.9 million, but the insurer had given approval only for US$ 2.5 million, adding that further documentation is needed to prove the rest,” she said.
Previously, an insurance payment of US$ 3.6 million was received for the initial expenses borne to control the fire of the vessel and the pollution caused by it. Lahandapura said that the Insurance Company had also positively responded to the claims presented by the Fisheries Department for the direct and indirect damages incurred by the fishermen, and those would also get the go-ahead shortly.
The MEPA Head said the third claim for the expenses borne from September 1 to November 30 is being prepared, and the MEPA would continue to claim for damages till the shipwreck is cleared.
“All these are for economic damages and not for environmental damages. The environmental damage cannot be calculated overnight. An Expert Panel, co-chaired by Moratuwa University Prof. Ajith de Alwis and Sri Jayawardhanapura University’s Prof. Prashanthi Gunawardene, has formulated the first interim report in this regard. It has been forwarded to an Australian maritime law firm for comments as per the Attorney General’s instructions. We hope to proceed on the claim for the environmental damage before the end of this year,” she explained.
courtesy dailynews
