There is suspicion that there may be a connection between the loss of compensation related to the X-Press Pearl disaster and the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
A complaint was filed yesterday (30) with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against three Supreme Court judges. The complaint alleges that the judges provided an unlawful benefit to the relevant parties by preventing them from recovering nearly USD 999 million (USD 999,000,000) in compensation that was due from the X-Press Pearl shipping company and its local agents.
The written complaint was submitted to the Director General of the Bribery Commission by Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Medical and Civil Rights Professionals’ Association (MCPA).
The complaint states that, after the judgments were issued in cases SC/FR/168/2021, SC/FR/176/2021, SC/FR/184/2021 and SC/FR/277/2021, the three judges acted while completely ignoring the decision previously given by a five-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice.
According to the judgment given on July 24, 2025, the shipping company and its agents had been ordered to pay USD 250 million before September 24, 2025. However, the complaint states that they had paid only about USD 1 million.
The petitioners had also asked the court to take contempt of court action against the company for failing to comply with the court order. However, the complaint states that the three judges did not take any action on this matter.
It is further stated that Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, who was the senior-most judge of the previous bench and played a key role in preparing the judgment, was removed without any legal reason. The case was then taken up on January 26, 2026, before a bench consisting only of the three judges who are now facing these allegations.
The complaint states that, contrary to normal court procedures, the three-judge bench ordered the proceedings to be terminated on the same day.
As a result of this order, the recovery of around USD 999 million in compensation from the relevant company was prevented. The petitioners were also informed in a letter dated March 6, 2026, that the Compensation Management Commission appointed by the court could no longer continue its work.
Request for an Investigation Under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa has further asked the Bribery Commission to conduct an independent and credible investigation into the matter and take legal action.
He states that the conduct of the three judges appears to amount to an “Act of Corruption” under Section 111 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, as it allegedly involved the improper use of public office.
He has also requested that the Commission inform him of the progress of the investigation in accordance with Section 44 of the Act.