Investigations into the fire on board the container ship were initiated on 30 May.[54] C. D. Wickramaratne, Inspector General of Police, instructed the police to hand over the investigations to Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department,[55] with authorities warning of possible legal action against X-Press Feeders, the vessel's owners.[56] On 31 May, a police spokesman revealed that a ten-member police special team had recorded statements from both the captain, chief engineer and vice engineer of X-Press Pearl.[57][58]