Neither the Captain nor the local agent informed the authorities of an acid leak onboard the vessel.
Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoontold Colombo Magistrate that the investigators identified the Captain, Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer of MV X-Press Pearl as key suspects in the incident.
DSG Tennekoon appeared for the CID in this matter.
He said further investigations would be proceeded, for violating the provisions under Marine Pollution Prevention Act, Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.
The DSG emphasized that neither the Captain of the ill-fated vessel nor its local shipping agent had informed Sri Lankan authorities of an acid leak on board the Mv X-Press Pearl before entering Sri Lankan waters. This could be viewed as a grave offence in terms of International Maritime Conventions because the vessel should have informed about the acid leak 72 hours before entering a Port.
The DSG said the ship carried 25 metric tons of nitric acid and was denied refuge in India and Qatar following the discovery of an acid leak.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court thereafter issued an order preventing the Captain, Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer of MV X-Press Pearl vessel from leaving Sri Lanka.
Colombo Additional Magistrate PriyanthaLiyanage also considered the facts placed before him by the Criminal Investigations Department conducting investigations into the country’sworst-ever beach pollution.
Meanwhile, Court further issued an order directing the Captain, Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer of MV X-Press Pearl to appear in court on June 7.
