X-press Pearl Captain Vitaly Tyutkalo, who has been held in Sri Lanka since 2021, has requested Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s permission to visit his family. He describes missing his family gatherings as “heartbreaking”.
The X-Press Pearl, loaded with 1,486 containers of chemicals and plastic nurdles, experienced a fire while anchored 10 nautical miles north of the Colombo Port on May 19 ,2021,
leading to a significant environmental disaster.
Capt Vitaly was taken into custody after the incident and was later released on bail, although his passport was confiscated.
Sea Trade Maritime news reported that the captain’s health worsened and he had a heart attack while he was at a hotel in Sri Lanka and is still receiving medical treatment.
When interviewed by Sea Trade Maritime news, Capt Vitaly asked Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena for assistance to return to his family. I have spent three years in this wonderful country of yours, patiently waiting. I have spent these years of my life without my family. Could you assist me in obtaining a ruling from the court, please? Assist me in finding clarity and guidance for my life.
His mental and emotional state has been significantly affected by the ambiguity of his circumstances and being stuck abroad with no end in sight. “I don’t understand what’s going on – the High Court feels like it’s never-ending, it’s been three years already,” he comments. He was absent from his oldest daughter’s wedding last year and was also unable to go to his younger daughter’s graduation, who is now 19. He describes missing these family gatherings as “heartbreaking.
“X-Press Feeders, the company Capt Vitaly works for, has remained supportive of him during his difficult situation. In addition to legal assistance, they have covered his salary and housing expenses in Sri Lanka, first in a hotel and now in a rented home, along with providing a car.
He describes the support he has received from his employers as “unbelievable” and says that his lawyer has been extremely involved in his case, Sea Trade Maritime news reported. “But unfortunately, they have no control over how slow the court process is, they have no control over my case, or who has my passport.”
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