Two Company Directors remanded over fire at Colombo Port

Thursday, 20 June 2013 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Two Company Directors who had been allegedly involved in importing undeclared inflammable chemical items were remanded yesterday till June 24 by a Colombo Court in connection with the fire that broke out at a warehouse in the Colombo Port, causing over Rs.734 million in property damages. Producing the two Directors of Spattolab Company Ltd. before Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Liyanage, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) alleged that the suspects had negligently taken measures to store the good items at a warehouse CFS 1 after concealing the facts that the items imported from India were inflammable chemical items. The CCD informed Court that due to this unsafe act committed by the suspects, the State incurred a loss of Rs. 40 million and it also further

caused over Rs.734 million in property damages. The CCD further alleged that the suspects had committed offences under Section 408, 409 and 419 of the Penal Code as well as the Public property Act. President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa with Sampath Gamage appearing for the first suspect Ganarajan Rengarajan of Colombo 5 argued that the SLPA should be held responsible for the fire, not the Company Directors. In his lengthy submission, the President’s Counsel told Court that the Ports Authority could have checked up the manifest which indicates the good items and taken a decision that those items were highly inflammable and that thereby they should be stored in a safe warehouse. He further submitted Court that selecting a warehouse to store the chemical items was the duty and responsibility of the Ports Authority and the blame could not be turned towards the Company Directors. He further submitted Court that the suspects had not committed any offence under the Penal Code or Public Property Act and moved Court that his client be released on bail. Defence Counsel Nalinda Indatissa with Sunanda Deshapriya appearing for the second suspect Wimal Katariya of Chennai argued that there was no legal provision in the law to produce a company director before a Court under the offences of Penal Code. Having considered the submissions the Additional Magistrate ordered that the two suspects be remanded till 24 June. The fire had broke out in the inbound cargo warehouse CFS 1 at JCT terminal inside the Colombo Port on 24 May, causing over Rs. 734 million in damages.