INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was surprised to learn, that the same entity which represents the owners of the charred feeder
vessel MV X-Press Pearl, is also providing consultations to the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).The vessel caught fire and
committee as some internal administrative failings were also brought to focus.When COPE chairman Prof
Charitha Herath asked if the legal officer attended the MT New Diamond affairs, the MEPA legal manager responded that she did not get the
chance to participate in any discussion on criminal liability pertaining to the vessel.MEPA chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura explained that
when the incident happened, they had a deputy legal manager
against the legal manager and for involving a subordinate official in a sensitive matter as such.COPE also found that only Rs
51 million was received out of the Rs
3,480 million as compensation for the damages caused by the MT New Diamond.In the meantime, the interim claim in the MV X-Press Pearl
disaster too was taken up at the COPE, especially the first interim claim of USD 37.4 million
However, the island has only received USD 3.6 million so far.It was revealed during the proceedings that the International Tanker Owners
They advise us on coast clean-up and they have expertise on controlling oil spills
Whenever, there is a ship accident, the ITOPF gives technical assistance
That happens anywhere in the world
There are many committees involving the attorney general and the justice minister and all the negotiations are done through them
it is because of this very reason that the compensation sum has been reduced
They represent the tanker and they do the negotiations
This moves forward on how much we agree and disagree with them
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
