Nitric Acid Leak Blamed for X-Press Pearl Inferno

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today (25) that investigations have revealed the fire on the X-Press Pearl vessel was caused by a nitric acid leak. This disclosure was made by Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, representing the Attorney General.

The announcement was made during the hearing of four fundamental rights petitions related to the ship fire, which were brought before a five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, Justices Yasanta Kodagoda, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando.

The petitions were filed seeking compensation for the damage caused to fishermen and the environment due to the fire.

The Additional Solicitor General emphasized that the ship's crew and the company managing the vessel are fully responsible for the incident.

Investigations revealed that despite being aware of the nitric acid leak from two containers for nine days, the authorities failed to take any action.

The Additional Solicitor General also clarified that the Sri Lankan government bears no responsibility for the disaster.

The respondents named in the petitions include the Minister of Environment, Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Ports, Chairman of the Ports Authority, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, the local agent of the X-Press Pearl vessel, Sea Consortium Lanka Pvt Ltd, Marine Environment Protection Authority, Central Environmental Authority, and the Attorney General, among others.

Note: The News1st Court Correspondent Contributed To This Report