The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 01. Yes.

¶ 02 02. In respect of the said cases, by the judgment dated 24.07.2025, the Supreme Court has ordered that ESO RO (Pte.) Limited, the registered owner of the vessel X-Press Pearl, together with Killiney Shipping (Pvt.) Limited and Sea Consortium (Pvt.) Limited, the operating companies, and Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt.) Limited, the local agent, are jointly and severally liable for the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s marine and coastal environment due to the X-Press Pearl incident, and has ordered the payment of USD 1 billion as interim compensation to restore the environment and for losses caused by the marine and coastal environmental damage, to be paid to the Secretary to the Treasury.

¶ 03 Accordingly, Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt.) Limited has paid Rs. 300 million (approximately USD 1 million), as informed to the Supreme Court by an affidavit of its Managing Director.

¶ 04 03. To review the progress of the implementation of the orders in the judgment dated 24.07.2025, when the matter was called before a Bench of the Supreme Court on 25.09.2025, the Court directed the appointment of independent experts to the MV X-Press Pearl Compensation Commission and to the Committee for Restoration and Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment due to MV X-Press Pearl. Based on nominations submitted, five experts have been appointed to the Compensation Commission and seven experts to the Restoration and Protection Committee. The judgment appointed retired Supreme Court Judge E.A.G.R. Amarasekara as Chair of the Compensation Commission and the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment as Chair of the Restoration and Protection Committee.

¶ 05 Further, considering the applications by the Petitioners, the Attorney General was directed to take necessary legal steps to ensure compliance with the judgment and to report to Court on or before 25.01.2026. The matter is to be re-listed on 26.01.2026.

¶ 06 04. The Government of Sri Lanka instituted proceedings in Singapore on or about 25.04.2023 seeking compensation from six defendants including Sea Consortium (Pvt.) Limited. The defendants filed their defences and counterclaims on or about 01.07.2024; the Government’s reply and counterclaim were filed on or about 09.09.2024. Having regard to limitation proceedings filed in London, the Singapore action heard on or about 15.11.2024 has been stayed. According to the Attorney General’s report, limitation actions were commenced in the Admiralty Court in London on or about 09.12.2021 by seven applicants including Sea Consortium (Pvt.) Limited against all parties alleging loss or damage arising from the 20.05.2021 incident of MV X-Press Pearl in Colombo. On or about 27.07.2023, a general limitation order was issued and published internationally. The Government of Sri Lanka applied on or about 27.01.2024 to set aside the order, and the matter is pending.