News
X-Press pearl insurers pay US$ 1.75mn interim compensation to fishing community
View(s):The Treasury has received a further sum of USD 1.75 million from the insurers of stricken vessel X-Press Pearl as part of an interim payment to help the fishing community affected by the disaster.
The interim payment was made following discussions between two representatives of P&I Club, the insurers of X-Press Pearl, who visited the island last week. The representatives had met the Attorney General and his officials, State Minister of Fisheries Kanchana Wijesekara and the Director General of Fisheries, the Director General of Merchant Shipping, as well as other senior officials including those from the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).
The representatives had also inspected the ongoing salvage work on removing the wreck and debris from the region.
There were “intense discussions” between Government officials and the representatives over the plight of the fishing community, whose livelihood has been hampered by the disaster and consequential fishing ban, due to the polluted environment, a senior Government source said.
The P&I were reminded by Government officials that after the initial interim payment, the only other payment received so far was a payment of Rs. 63 million for the residual costs incurred by the
Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force and MEPA to extinguish the fire on board the ship.
It was also pointed out that there was considerable delay on the part of the insurers in honouring the claims submitted by the Ministry of Fisheries and MEPA, even though these were not substantial environmental claims, but interim claims, the source disclosed.
Accordingly, Government officials had requested P&I to make an interim payment as a “goodwill gesture” to the fishing community affected by the disaster.
The Treasury has now confirmed the receipt of USD 1.75 Million as part of the fisheries claim. This amount was accepted, subject to further discussion being held between the P&I and the Ministry of Fisheries on an enhanced claim.
Two other experts from the insurers are due to arrive in the country next week to process the fisheries claims that have already been submitted.
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