Complaint filed against three judges over alleged loss of X-Press Pearl compensation
COLOMBO – A complaint has been lodged with Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption body, alleging that three Supreme Court judges acted in a manner that resulted in the loss of a further US$999 million in compensation linked to the 2021 X-Press Pearl maritime disaster.
The written complaint was submitted to the Secretary of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) by Dr Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors’ Association, seeking an investigation into the conduct of the three judges.
The complaint alleges that the judges failed to give effect to an earlier order relating to compensation payable by the shipping company involved in the X-Press Pearl disaster and its local representatives.
It further alleges that the judges granted favourable treatment to the parties concerned and, through their actions, caused the State to lose the opportunity to recover approximately US$999 million in compensation.
The complaint refers to judgments delivered in Fundamental Rights petitions SC/FR/168/2021, SC/FR/176/2021, SC/FR/184/2021 and SC/FR/277/2021, and alleges that the three judges disregarded an order issued by a five-member Supreme Court bench that included the Chief Justice.
According to the complaint, an order issued on July 24, 2025 required the shipping company to pay US$250 million by September 24, 2025. However, the complainant alleges that only US$1 million was subsequently paid.
The complaint further claims that petitioners sought contempt proceedings against the company for allegedly failing to comply with the court order, but that no action was taken.
It also alleges that a senior judge who had previously heard the case was removed from the proceedings without lawful justification and that the matter was subsequently taken up on January 26, 2026, before a bench comprising the three judges named in the complaint.
According to the complainant, the bench departed from normal judicial practice by directing that the proceedings be concluded on the same day, thereby allegedly preventing further action to recover the remaining compensation.
The complaint characterizes the alleged conduct as an abuse of public office and an offence under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, and calls for an independent investigation and appropriate legal action if wrongdoing is established.
The allegations contained in the complaint have not been independently established, and the filing of a complaint does not imply any finding of wrongdoing against the judges.
The X-Press Pearl, a Singapore-registered container vessel, caught fire off the western coast of Sri Lanka in May 2021, causing extensive marine pollution and environmental damage.
-ENCL
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.