X-Press Feeders, operator of the containership X-Press Pearl, made an initial payment of $3.6 million to the Sri Lankan government.
The payment was made to help compensate those affected by the consequences of the fire and sinking of the vessel.
Of the amount received, around $2.1 million were given to compensate local fishermen, as Mohamed Uvais Mohamed Ali Sabry, Sri Lankan Minister of Justice, informed.
Currently, discussions are taking place regarding the payment of further claims, while all legitimate claims will be taken into consideration.
The transaction took place as the ship’s insurers agreed in June to pay part of the initial settlement claim for damages the incident caused.
The X-Press Pearl was carrying 1,486 containers with 25 tons of Nitric Acid, when it sank off the Port of Colombo on 2 June after a fire that lasted about two weeks.
As a resuslt, numerous sea turtles and dolphins were washed ashore, as they were poisoned by toxins released from X-Press Pearl’s cargo.