Sri Lanka is unable to obtain compensation with regard to the MT New Diamond ship accident in September 2020 due to the vessel being released against the orders of the Attorney General, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said in Parliament today.

On 3 September 2020, the MT New Diamond, a very large crude carrier, caught fire off the western coast of Sri Lanka. After burning intermittently for almost a week, the fire was reported to be extinguished by 11 September and the vessel was later released.

Commenting on the matter, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated that the Attorney General had instructed at the time that the ship should not be released from Sri Lankan waters until the relevant compensation is obtained.He further stated that it has been found that disregarding the AG’s orders, then Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage had instructed the Sri Lanka Navy to release the vessel.“This move has resulted in Sri Lanka being unable to obtain the necessary compensation related to the ship accident. We have filed three separate cases, but we are unable to receive any compensation. The lawyers of the foreign company who own the vessel have not even responded to our claims,” he told the Parliament.

Also commenting on the matter, MP Nalaka Godahewa who was the State Minister of Coast Conservation at the time, informed Parliament that even though he was the subject minister the order to release the vessel was not issued by him.MP Godahewa further revealed that the Sri Lanka Navy was instructed by then Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage to release the vessel.

He added that he was not involved in the matter as it fell under security and foreign affairs.