The Sri Lankan government is seeking an initial $40m from the owner of the burned-out containership X-Press Pearl after it sank on 2 June.
The interim claim has been sent to lawyers representing Singapore company X-Press Feeders.
The shipowner said Sri Lanka's attorney general had taken the action. Darshani Lahandapura, head of the state-run Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), confirmed the amount.
According to the Associated Press news agency, she said the money is being sought to cover part of the cost of fighting the blaze on the 2,742-teu X-Press Pearl (built 2020) from 20 May to 1 June.
Lahandapura said authorities were still assessing the total damage.
The fire is believed to have started in a leaking container on deck.
The vessel was carrying more than 22 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals, most of which was destroyed in the fire.
But debris including burned fibreglass and tonnes of plastic pellets have polluted beaches over a 150 km (81 nautical mile) section of coast.
No large oil spill
Both Sri Lanka and X-Press Feeders say there is still no large oil spill.
But water tests were being carried out to determine whether there is oil present now, after satellite images showed an unidentified substance near the two parts of the hull.
A Colombo court has barred the ship’s captain, chief engineer and assistant engineer from leaving the country.
The vessel is a constructive total loss and is entered with the London P&I Club.
In an update on 12 June, X-Press Feeders said the ship's aft portion remains at a depth of about 21 metres, while the forward section remains afloat and is reported as stable.
"A grey sheen continues to be observed emanating from the vessel," the owner said.
"Discolouration of the sea has been apparent since the vessel's stern became submerged, and the remnants of the cargo in the 1,486 containers that were on board were exposed to water."
The MEPA is working with the Sri Lanka Navy to coordinate the pollution clean-up.
