Supreme Court grants leave to proceed with Cardinal’s FR on X-Press Pearl

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights application filed by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith seeking an order to take legal action against the officials responsible for allowing the X-Press Pearl ship to enter into Sri Lankan waters, without properly investigating the chemical leak on board the ill-fated vessel.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Justice Janak De Silva and Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena fixed the petition for January 20.

The Supreme Court also granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights petition filed by Dr Ajantha Perera and Jeran Jegatheesan.

The petitioners had named Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda, Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Port Authority Chairman Nihal Keppetipola, Marine Environmental Protection Authority, Harbour Master Capt. K.M. Nirmal P. Silva, Sea Consortium Pte. Limited (X-Press Feeders), Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt.) Limited and several others as respondents.

The application also seeks and order directing the authorities to provide financial assistance to the fishermen in the Gampaha, Colombo, and Kalutara Districts who have lost their income following the X-Press Pearl disaster.