CID investigations on the burnt Merchant Vessel X Press pearl have revealed that several emails sent by the ship’s local agent to the captain of ship had been deleted.
Accordingly, the CID had requested Colombo Additional Magistrate Shilani Perera yesterday (07) to obtain a court order to obtain the ‘secure email file’ belonging to that email address.
The CID has informed the court today that although it was initially reported that the fire on the ship was caused by nitric acid, investigations have so far revealed that the fire was caused by ammonia.
The CID has also informed the court that further investigations are being carried out as all the statements obtained from the ship’s captain and other officers are contradictory.
Sea Consortium Lanka has acted as the local agent for this ship which belongs to Express Feeder Company, Singapore.
