Sri Lanka seeks initial $40M from cargo ship's operator

Sri Lanka is seeking an interim claim of $40 million from the operator of a fire-ravaged cargo ship to cover the cost of fighting the blaze

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka is seeking an interim claim of $40 million from the operator of a fire-ravaged cargo ship to cover part of the cost of fighting the blaze, officials said Saturday. Sri Lanka's attorney general has sent the claim to lawyers representing X-Press Feeders, the ship’s operating company, said Darshani Lahandapura, head of the state-run Marine Pollution Protection Authority. She said authorities were still assessing the total damages, and the interim claim seeks compensation for expenses from May 20, when the ship caught fire, through June 1. The fire broke out while the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Colombo, and waiting to enter the country's main port.