Data deleted from the Digital Laboratory of the Government Analyst’s Department remains inaccessible due to a technical error, with an estimated Rs. 121 million needed for system restoration. During a recent court hearing, Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera was informed by Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon that it would take three months to obtain a specialist report to determine who deleted critical information and official emails related to the X-Press Pearl ship disaster that occurred in May 2021.
The deleted emails, crucial for the investigation, have been inaccessible for four months, hindering progress. The Deputy Solicitor General explained that the restoration process has faced delays due to recent elections that affected procurement. A case has been filed against the local agent of the ship and seven employees for failing to secure necessary approvals and deleting essential emails concerning the incident.
The X-Press Pearl, which caught fire while transporting hazardous materials off Colombo’s coast, led to significant environmental damage as chemicals and plastic pellets washed ashore. In May 2023, the Attorney General filed a claim in Singapore, and by August, the ship’s owners agreed to a Rs. 301 million compensation for the environmental impact.
