Magistrate bars captain of MT New Diamond from leaving Sri Lanka

A magistrate in Colombo has barred the captain of MT New Diamond from leaving Sri Lanka.

The court imposed the restriction on Steiros Illias, captain of the fire-stricken ship.

The next hearing in the case is on Oct. 12.

The captain appeared in court after the attorney general directed police to name him a suspect in the fire.

On Saturday, the owner of ship, Greece-based Porto Emporios Shipping, agreed to pay $2.3 million to Sri Lanka for its help in extinguishing the blaze.

The government also plans to submit a claim to the owner for damage to the marine environment caused by the fire.

The 20-year-old ship, which was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil, was damaged by two fires in early September.