The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and two fisherfolk organizations have sent a letter of demand urging seven parties, including the registered owner of the X-Press Perl vessel, to take immediate steps to pay $6.4 billion to the Treasury of the Government of Sri Lanka for the purpose of distributing it among the fishermen and other persons affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster.
It has warned that legal action will be instituted locally against seven parties if the money is not paid within a period of seven days.
Attorney-at-law Sachintha Rodrigo representing his clients. Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Elakanda Sadasarana Rural Fisher Folk Organization, and Hendagala Pamunugama Rural Fisher Folk Organization have sent this letter of demand against
EOS RO Private Limited, the registered owner of X-Press Vessel, Sea Consortium Private Limited (a third-party operator), X-Press Feeders Limited (the ship manager), Sea Consortium Lanka Pvt. Ltd., the local agent for Sea Consortium Private Limited, The London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Limited, the insurer, GAC Shipping Ltd., and Three Eyes Capital Company Limited
Mr. Rodrigo said he was instructed by his clients that this demand would apply mutatis mutandis (with things changed that should be changed) to the proprietary rights and interests that have been affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster in Sri Lanka.
He further said his clients and the entire public of Sri Lanka suffered pecuniary losses and other damages owing to the X-Press Perl disaster.
For the oil spill caused by M.V. X-Press Pearl, an amount of USD 58,459,868.00 has been calculated according to the SOSCEM Model calculation for the damages caused to socioeconomic and environmental systems due to the oil spill. For chemical pollution such as nitrogen added to the ocean from the ship accident, firefighting chemicals, and air pollution amounting to USD 56,875,158.
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