The Mutwal Fishermen Protection Association yesterday expressed serious concern over as the fishermen who were affected by the destruction caused by the MV X-Press Pearl container ship last year, are still to receive compensation.
The Association said a large number of victimized fisher folk are still awaiting compensation from the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) or any other responsible State organisation.
According to MFPA, the container ship owner company in Singapore has already paid compensation to Sri Lanka and it is now the responsibility of the local authorities to expedite payments to the affected fisher families considering their plight.
When contacted, a senior MEPA official said the affected fisher families have already been identified and steps will be taken to provide compensation as early as possible.He said measures will also be taken to clean the affected coastal belt and ocean area to enable the traditional fishermen in the areas to go ahead with their fishing activities.
According to Fisheries Ministry sources, fishing activities of Hendala, Wattala, Dikovita and Kepungoda coastal areas were badly affected following the sinking of the container ship.
The Singapore registered X-Press Pearl container ship caught fire off the Colombo Outer Harbour on May 20 last year and nearly 1480 containers inside the ship were immediately removed to prevent the fire.
According to Fisheries Department the Environmental Ministry sources, several other authorised institutions including the Maritime Pollution Prevention Authority and the National Aquatic and Research Authority (NARA) conducted investigations into the disaster. MEPA sources said the decision to ban fishing activities in the affected ocean area was taken after considering the health risk due to chemical substances, garbage and other damaged objects on the ocean bed.
MEPA sources said that the chemicals which mixed with sea water in the ocean area could also pose a threat to human life.
He said fishing activities in the affected ocean areas were temporarily prohibited after the MV X-Press Pearl disaster thus impacting the health and livelihoods of fisher families.
courtesy dailynews.lk
