June 12, Colombo: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (11) instructed the relevant officials to assess the situation in the coastal stretch from Negombo to Panadura that was affected by the wrecked X-Press Pearl vessel and reopen the area for the fishermen to resume their fishing activities.

Addressing a discussion at Temple Trees regarding the fire on board the X-Press Pearl Friday, the Premier instructed to expedite the necessary legal process required to fully assess the damage caused by the ship fire focusing on all sectors including environment, fisheries, and economy to obtain full compensation from the relevant shipping company and to remove the ship from that location.

The Prime Minister also said that the relevant legal matters should be handled by the Attorney General's Department.

The Prime Minister said that the Rs. 5,000 allowance given to low income families affected by the Covid-19 epidemic will be extended to the fishing community affected by the ship from next Monday.

Ministers Douglas Devananda, Mahinda Amaraweera, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Ali Sabry, State Ministers Kanchana Wijesekera, Nalaka Godahewa, Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath. Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Anil Jasinghe, Sirinimal Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing UDC Jayalal, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Daya Ratnayake, Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Darshani Lahandapura, Chairperson, Marine Environment Protection Authority, Siripala Amarasinghe, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority and a number of officials from various government institutions were also present at the occasion.