In an ongoing legal development, the Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Pradeep Hettiarachchi has summoned the petitions filed by 52 fishermen demanding compensation for the damages incurred due to the fire on the Xpress Pearl ship off the coast of Sri Lanka. The judge has set December 13 as the date for further inquiry into the matter.

This legal action adds to the existing petitions filed by 18 fishermen who were adversely affected by the catastrophic fire on the Express Pearl ship. The two new petitions, presented by a total of 52 fishermen, are collectively seeking compensation amounting to Rs. 37.2 million for the damages they suffered as a result of the ship's fire.

The petitioners argue that the fire aboard the Xpress Pearl ship caused significant harm to the marine environment, rendering it impossible for them to continue their fishing activities and, as such, they are seeking compensation for their losses.

Several parties, including the company that owns the ship, Express Pearl, and its local representative company, Sea Consortium Lanka Company, have been named as respondents in these petitions.