In a landmark ruling, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court orders $1 billion in damages from X-Press Pearl operators for massive marine destruction. Judgment includes accountability of former minister and timeline for payment.
In a historic ruling delivered today, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ordered the operators of the X-Press Pearl cargo ship to pay $1 billion in compensation to the Sri Lankan government for the environmental and economic devastation caused by the vessel’s catastrophic fire and sinking off the country’s western coast.
The Supreme Court found that multiple parties, including then State Minister for Environment Nalaka Godahewa, had violated the fundamental rights of citizens by failing to take preventative measures, despite clear warnings leading up to the disaster.
The ruling mandates that the compensation be fully paid within one year from today, with the first installment due by September 23, 2025.
The order was issued by a five-judge Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Vengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando.
The case was heard in response to Fundamental Rights petitions filed by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, and affected members of the fishing community who suffered immense loss from the incident.
The X-Press Pearl, a chemical-laden cargo vessel registered under a foreign flag, caught fire and sank near Colombo in 2021, triggering one of the worst marine pollution events in Sri Lanka’s history. It released harmful chemicals and plastic pellets into the ocean, severely impacting marine life, fisheries, and tourism across a wide stretch of the western coastline.
The Court emphasized that the failure to act promptly and responsibly amounted to a gross dereliction of duty by state officials and those responsible for maritime oversight. Environmentalists and citizens alike have hailed the verdict as a rare and bold stand in favor of ecological justice and government accountability.
