Complaint lodged with CIABOC over delay in implementing X-Press Pearl disaster judgment

On behalf of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, yesterday (31), lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) alleging the government’s failure to recover compensation owed to Sri Lanka in connection with the X-Press Pearl disaster.

Dr. Sanjeewa told the media that the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered in 2025 by a five-member bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, had determined that the X-Press Pearl disaster resulted in a violation of fundamental rights and ordered that US$1 billion be paid to the government of Sri Lanka.

But, so far, only USD I million had been received, Dr. Sanjeewa said. The civil society activist said that his alliance had called for a comprehensive investigation into the reasons for the failure to recover the funds under the present administration.