Sri Lankan fishing trawler seized by Somali pirates
Sri Lanka Navy seeks assistance from Combined Maritime Forces for its release
COLOMBO – The Sri Lanka Navy has asked the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Bahrain, a multinational naval partnership with 39 member countries dedicated to maritime security, to help secure the release of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates and launch an investigation into the incident.
‘Lorenzo Putha 4’ a multi-day fishing trawler, with six crew members on board, had been seized by Somali pirates in international waters near the Seychelles.
Naval Spokesman Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya confirmed the notification to CMF and added that countries with advanced naval technology are also being briefed on the situation.
Susantha Kahawatta, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the fishing trawler, which set sail from the port of Dikovita in Sri Lanka on January 12, had been captured around 1,160 nautical miles away from the Sri Lankan maritime boundary.
He said Sri Lankan authorities do not have any contact with the vessel and the information they have was obtained from other vessels nearby. However, he said relevant Sri Lankan departments have been alerted and are closely monitoring the developments.
Kahawatta said the abducted crew, currently held on the Lorenzo Putha 4, have not made any contact with Sri Lankan officials, and the abductors have not made any demands from the government.
Despite the communication breakdown, Kahawatta assured that “all measures are being taken” to secure the safe return of the fishermen.
-Xinhua/ newsfirst.lk
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