X-Press Pearl & Hippo Spirit: The tale of two ships

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government, which was in a hurry to pay compensation to the Chinese ship 'Hippo Spirit', has not yet taken action to recover compensation for the damage caused by the sinking of the X-Press Pearl.

The fishermen in the Chilaw say that they have faced many crises as they have not received the relevant compensation, and the community says that they are still suffering from the effects of a toxic chemical leak on the ship.

Following this incident, Lankan beaches were seen piled with up dead sea creatures.

So far, Sri Lanka has received only $ 3.6 million in compensation for the damage caused.

Fishermen, speaking to News 1st, stated that they have not yet received any compensation, while fisheries and resources in the Negombo-Colombo region have been depleted.

" They say that compensation will be paid soon but nobody has received it yet. To the authorities, it's as if X-Press Pearl did not sink in our waters," a fisherman said.

Other fishermen, speaking to News 1st stated that it had not been fair to the fishermen, as a catastrophe as such has not occurred in Sri Lankan waters before.  

"The impact has not yet abated. There is no harvest of fish. They said that the ship will be removed and that the fishermen will be compensated, but there has been no compensation. Now they brought and sent back a fertilizer ship and paid it in billion as well. Sadly there are no Embassies to speak up about our issues," the fishermen said.

Sri Lanka initially demanded 40 million US $ for the damage caused by the shipwreck.

Subsequently, an audit revealed that Sri Lanka has not been able to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for accidents at sea due to the inadequacy of Sri Lankan law.

The X-Press Pearl ship was carrying 81 containers of hazardous cargo and contained 25 tons of nitric acid.

Meanwhile, the Hippo Spirit ship which arrived in the Sri Lankan seas on October 24 carrying a stock of organic fertilizer containing hazardous microorganisms has reached China, after the Sri Lankan Cabinet decided to pay $ 6.7 million to Quingdao Seawin Biotech for the promised stock of fertilizer.

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Dr. Athulasiri Samarakoon, member of the National Movement for a Just Society stated that China has put a lot of pressure on Sri Lanka while our state power remains minimal.

" China exercised its power very strongly against our state. We have been coerced from the other side to the point that the international community has no confidence in Sri Lanka today," he stated.

Pointing out that Sri Lanka deserves billions in compensation, Prof. Samarakoon inquired as to why the Government is getting only a small amount of funds as compensation.

When will the country obtain fair compensation for the damage caused to the country by the X-Press Pearl ship with the same eagerness the Government had to pay for the Chinese ship, 'Hippo Spirit'?