News

SL files lawsuit against X-Press Pearl owners in Singapore

Published

12 months ago

May 17, 2023

editor

The Attorney General has filed a claim in the High Court of Singapore over the X-Press Pearl incident involving six defendants, the President’s Media Division said.

A case conference hearing took place on May 15 and the next date is scheduled for June.

The case conference hearing was taken up before the General Division of the High Court of Singapore on 15th May 2023, and a further follow-up on the said case conference has been scheduled for 01st June 2023. The Attorney General’s Department is currently exploring the possibility of transferring the case to the Division of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) under the Rules of Procedure of the SICC, a PMD release said.

The litigation of the X-Press Pearl Incident is being handled by a Singaporean Legal Firm, appointed and retained with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, to represent the interests of the Government of Sri Lanka.

On 20 May 2021, the Singapore-flagged vessel caught fire and sank off the west coast of Sri Lanka. It carried 1,488 containers, including 81 with dangerous goods, 25 tonnes of nitric acid, 348 tonnes of oil, and up to 75 billion small plastic pellets known as nurdles.

Since then the disaster has had a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s delicate coastal environment, local communities and economy, wiping out a large number of marine species.

News

Royal pardon for 44 Sri Lankans in UAE

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2024

nipuni

Forty four Sri Lankans who were in different prisons across the United Arab Emirates have been pardoned by a Royal order.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates has formally conveyed to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi that these Sri Lankan prisoners received pardon by the Royal order on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, April 2024.

These forty four Sri Lankans who have received the Royal pardon will be repatriated to Sri Lanka by the Government of the United Arab Emirates in due course. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi will collaboratively coordinate with the United Arab Emirates Government authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka to ensure their safe repatriation.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi Udaya Indrarathne wishes to extend his deep appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates, and its Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior for making arrangements to pardon these Sri Lankans. The Embassy of Sri Lanka appreciates the empathy and generosity shown by the leadership of the UAE in this regard.

(MFASL)

News

Weather advisory for high waves issued

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2024

nipuni

The sea areas along the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota may see a rise in the swell waves today (3) approximately 2.5 m – 3.0 m height and wave period around 12s-16s, according to the Department of Meteorology.

Nearshore water areas off the coast that stretch from Kalpitiya to Matara to Galle and Colombo are likely to see surges as a result of swell waves.

Choppy seas are expected in offshore areas extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.

It is recommended that the fishing and naval communities exercise caution when conducting their operations in the above-water regions and were further requested to be on alert on future forecasts released by the Met. Department.