In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the shipping company that owned the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl to pay USD 1 billion in compensation for the extensive economic and environmental damage caused by the vessel.

The decision comes more than three years after the Singapore-flagged cargo ship caught fire and sank off the coast of Colombo in May 2021, triggering the worst maritime disaster in Sri Lanka’s history. The incident led to widespread pollution, including the release of tonnes of toxic chemicals and plastic pellets into the ocean, severely affecting marine life, coastal ecosystems, and livelihoods dependent on the fishing industry.