The following is a statement based on remarks made by
Mr Ajith Seneviratne, Director General of Merchant Shipping Secretariat at the press conference held yesterday in Colombo to clarify the incident surrounding the fire on X-Press Pearl, a container ship during her anchorage at the Colombo Port.
Currently, the role of the Merchant Shipping Secretariat is to coordinate with the agencies responsible for this incident. Our company liaised with all government agencies in the country in this regard and with the Singaporean company that owns the ship, insurance companies and shipping agents.
Accordingly, at the first discussion, the insurance company, the shipowners and the Government of Singapore were able to carry out these activities in a proper manner. These activities are being carried out with the advice and assistance of the Attorney General’s Department. At the same time, action is being taken on the instructions of the Attorney General’s Department to obtain compensation in this regard.
