Ports Minister blames X-Press Pearl for limited information on leak

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Ports & Shipping Minister has assured that the X-Press Pearl wreck has not obstructed the shipping lanes leading to the Colombo Harbour.

"The wreck poses no threat to the outer harbour as well," said Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena on Monday (14).

"This was an unexpected incident and the information we received was that there was a leak in one of the containers. Thereafter the harbour master was told about the fire on board the vessel," he said in response to questions posed by journalists.

Had the vessel given more information, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority could have made a different approach with regard to the incident and the situation could have been controlled, he said.

"The Captain or a representative did not inform us in detail," he stressed adding that when the fire was reported, the necessary measures were implemented to contain the fire.