Local agent deleted emails from X-Press Pearl about Nitric leak; AG tells Court

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Sri Lankan Court was told on Monday (07) that the captain and crew of the X-Press Pearl Container Ship were aware of the nitric acid leak from one of the containers 10 days before a fire broke out onboard the vessel.

Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon appearing for the Attorney General said the captain had informed the Sri Lankan agent of the operator/owner of the X-Press Pearl about the leak via email.

He went on to note that it is proven that the local agent had deleted the mail sent by the ships' captain informing them about the nitric acid leak.

The Deputy Solicitor General also told the court that the local agent on the 19th of May had informed the Colombo Harbour to allow the vessel to enter the Colombo Harbour as the vessel is in an unsafe and dangerous position.

He also told the court that the Sri Lankan authorities were informed about the chemical leak onboard the X-Press Pearl for the first time on the 20th of May.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Chalani Perera on Monday (07) ordered the Commander of the Navy to provide security to the X-Press Pearl wreck.

In addition, the court also called for a copy of the data recorder to be provided to uncover the emails exchanged between the ship and the local agent.

On Monday (07), the Voyage Data Recorder of the X-Press Pearl was produced to the court.

The Colombo Additional Magistrate ordered the Government Analyst to provide the Criminal Investigations Department with a report on the recordings and details retreived from the Voyage Data Recorder.

However, the Colombo Additional Magistrate dismissed an order requested by the Criminal Investigations Department to name the Managing Director of the local agent of the X-Press Pearl and 06 others as suspects.

The case will be called up again on the 15th of June.

The Captain and Chief Engineer of the X-Press Pearl were not produced in court today as they currently remain hospitalized.