X-Press Pearl probe in chaos, House Committee finds fault with MEPA, AG, Fisheries Ministry

The Marine Environment Protection Authority(MEPA) has complained to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development that it is not aware of the actions taken by the Attorney General regarding developments pertaining to the X-Press Pearl ship disaster off the port of Colombo in early 2021.

The top MEPA management has explained the difficulties experienced by them due to the AG’s attitude.

The MEPA alleged that they hadn’t received the AG’s response to a query regarding the status of the Expert Committee appointed by them in the wake of the Justice Ministry declaring the appointment of an international panel.

The issue was taken up recently by the Oversight Committee, chaired by Ajith Mannaperuma of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB)

It was also revealed that payments in respect of work carried out by the Expert Committee hadn’t been made so far.

The MEPA also disclosed that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) inquired from them about two members of the Expert Committee while Joint Chairman of the said committee, Prof. Ajith de Silva, revealed that inquiries had been made from relevant Universities regarding his educational qualifications.

It transpired that due to lack of cooperation among MEPA, AG and the Fisheries Ministry the entire process, including payment of compensation to the fishing community, had been affected. (SF)