July 31, 2025 –
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Orders $1 Billion Compensation for Historic Marine Pollution Disaster
In a landmark environmental ruling, Sri Lanka’s highest court has mandated the X-Press Pearl Group to pay $1 billion in damages for causing the world’s worst marine plastic pollution incident. The 2021 ship disaster released an estimated 70-75 billion plastic pellets along the country’s coastline, creating an ecological catastrophe.
The Singapore-registered container vessel X-Press Pearl caught fire and sank off Sri Lanka’s western coast after being denied entry at multiple ports due to a leaking nitric acid container. Court documents reveal the ship’s operators deliberately concealed critical safety information when seeking entry to Colombo Port.
Justice Minister Tiran Alles announced the compensation will fund a new environmental restoration program. “This judgment sets a global precedent for holding polluters accountable,” Alles stated. The payment schedule requires $250 million by September 2025, with full settlement within one year.
The court specifically blamed four commercial entities: vessel owner EOS Shipping, charter companies Killiney Shipping and Sea Consortium, along with their local agent. Notably, all government agencies were exempted from liability.
X-Press Feeders, the ship’s former operator, expressed disappointment with the verdict. “We’re reviewing the 361-page judgment with our legal team and insurers,” a company spokesperson said, hinting at possible appeals.
Marine scientists estimate the plastic pellets could take centuries to fully degrade, with ongoing impacts on fish stocks and coral reefs. Environmental groups have hailed the decision as a watershed moment for ocean protection litigation.