A limitation on damages action filed in Britain by the X-Press Pearl container vessel’s insurers could cause a delay in Sri Lanka’s ongoing compensation claim in Singapore.
According to the Sunday Times, legal experts have advised the government that it would be prudent to either postpone the claims action in Singapore or request a lengthy delay until the UK case is resolved. According to The Sunday Times, legal experts have advised Sri Lankan authorities that proceeding with the claims action in Singapore will be detrimental until the insurers’ case in the UK detailing how much they can pay in terms of disaster damages is resolved.
Under the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, the insurers filed the case in the Commercial High Court in London.
The government, on the other hand, is determined to fight the UK case as well, because insurers are attempting to limit the amount of damages that could be paid out in connection with Sri Lanka’s worst maritime disaster.
“We want to close the case in the UK as soon as possible.” “We believe we can prove that the ship owner’s negligence caused the tragedy, given that the vessel raised concerns in two other ports before arriving in Sri Lanka,” the minister said. The government will have to hire a law firm in the United Kingdom to represent its interests in the insurers’ case.
The issue will need Cabinet approval, and a Cabinet paper on the subject is expected to be presented soon.
source : Sunday times
