The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued a sweeping condemnation of the events surrounding the fire aboard the containership X-Press Pearl in May 2021 and the resulting environmental damage. The court ordered $1 billion in compensation to be paid by the shipping companies and their agents, while also ordering investigations into the government’s handling of the casualty.

The case was initiated by the fishing community, which filed petitions citing the extensive environmental damage and loss of their livelihood. After reviewing extensive reports, the court agreed, calling the casualty “the worst marine chemical catastrophe in recorded history in the Indian Ocean.” They cite the release of 25 tons of nitric acid, 70 billion plastic nurdles, and other hazardous chemicals from the loss of the vessel, which was carrying 1,500 containers. It also cites the numerous dead turtles, dolphins, and whales that washed ashore.

In a 361-page judgment released today, July 24, the court finds the shipping companies and their agents “conceded” the casualty resulted in significant environmental harm. However, it says the non-state respondents in the case “did not present their own qualification of the loss caused in financial terms.”

The five-member court set the loss…