In a landmark ruling, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered Singapore-based X-Press Feeders to pay a staggering $1 billion in compensation for the 2021 MV X-Press Pearl disaster, dubbed the worst marine chemical catastrophe in Indian Ocean history. The ship, carrying 81 containers of hazardous chemicals—including 25 tonnes of nitric acid—caught fire in Sri Lankan waters, burning for two weeks and unleashing environmental devastation.

The court slammed the company for economic losses and catastrophic ecological damage, with over 70 billion plastic nurdles and toxic substances polluting Sri Lanka’s seas and coastlines. Beaches were littered with dead turtles, dolphins, and whales for weeks, a grim testament to the disaster’s toll. The ruling also pointed fingers at state authorities, citing gross negligence and inaction as key contributors to the crisis.

Sri Lanka initially demanded $40 million for cleanup costs and launched criminal proceedings against the vessel’s captain, chief engineer, and chief officer. This historic verdict sends a powerful message to global shipping firms: negligence on this scale comes with a billion-dollar price tag, as Sri Lanka fights to heal its scarred waters and wildlife.

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