The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka says that India did not demand money from Sri Lanka to cover the cost of helping with the MT New Diamond or X-Press Pearl marine disaster.Noting that reports indicating as such are ‘completely false and incorrect, the High Commission says that they have ‘raised a claim for deployment, salvage activities and items/stores undertaken by these ships’, “in line with Polluter Pay Principle as per international norms.”

Speaking during the Derana 360 program on May 22, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had said that Sri Lanka has to pay an amount of 890 million Indian rupees to the Indian Government for the aid and support extended when the X-Press Pearl and the New Diamond vessels were in distress in Sri Lankan waters.The minister had said that the Indian Government has informed this request in writing.

The complete media release issued by the Indian High Commission in this regard is as follows :

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High Commission of India