The Fishermen’s Rights Association (FRA) highlighted about the balance compensation amount that should be paid to a large number of fishermen following the X- Press Pearl container ship disaster and said the families of fishermen are waiting for their balance compensation to purchase new fishing gear and also to repair the damaged fishing boats which are still idling.
Speaking to Daily News Business FRA President Jayasiri Wickramarachchi (pictured) who is also the Chairman of Central Fish Market (CFM) said currently the fish prices have drastically increased due to short supply of fish from main supply areas including the ocean area where the X- Press Pearl ship caught fire.
He said he was happy to know that this matter has already been brought before the judiciary to claim damages from the Singaporean insurance company. Wickramarachchi therefore pleaded to authorities to intervene in this matter and make arrangements to pay at least the relevant compensations to victimized fishermen before the judiciary decision in order to re-commence their fishing activities.
It is reported that earlier the Government had claimed a compensation of US Dollars 6.4 billion following the ship disaster that took place in the Sri Lankan ocean four years ago. Accordingly the Singaporean insurance company has already made US dollars 4.5 million compensation to Sri Lanka on three occasions.
According to senior officials a large number of fisher families in Hendala, Wattala, Dikowita and Kepungoda ocean areas were affected and also this disaster badly affected even ocean living beings. The Singapore registered X- Press Pearl container ship caught fire off the Colombo outer Harbor four years ago and nearly 1,486 containers including 81 containers that had chemical substances were inside the ship.
According to reports major institutions including the Maritime Pollution Prevention Authority, the National Aquatic Research Authority (NARA) , the Environmental Ministry and several other authorized Research institutions also conducted investigations into the disaster.