Sri Lanka, March 23 -- The Colombo High Court yesterday served indictment to eight accused including the Captain of the X-Press Pearl Vessel which caught fire and sank off in the seas near the Colombo Harbour while carrying Nitric Acid and other toxic chemicals.

The indictments were served to the accused before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta over the case filed against the accused in connection with the damage caused to the environment following the fire of the X-Press Pearl vessel in Sri Lankan waters in May 2021 and the toxic chemicals stored there mixed with the sea water.

When the case was taken up before the Colombo High Court yesterday, counsels appearing for the defence informed court that a petition was filed in the ...