Negotiations under way for release of hijacked ship crew

by Manjula Fernando

The World Food Program (WFP) and the Nigerian Shipping Company are still negotiating for the release of the hijacked ship and its 10 crew members including Sri Lankan captain S. Mahalingam, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Himali Arunatilleke said.

The Ship MV Semlow was seized by an unidentified gang of pirates demanding a ransom of half a million US dollars for its release with its cargo of 850 tons of rice, according to the WFP.

"We have been informed that the all 10 crew members and its captain are safe but they are being kept hostage inside the vessel," she said adding that the Foreign Ministry has already contacted his sister in Colombo and kept them informed of the developments.

The ship which was seized 60 kilometres off the coast is said to be now anchored about five kilometres from the shore.

The WFP has made no indication that they were going to pay the ransom but were negotiating through local channels to impress upon the pirates that it was carrying humanitarian assistance for the tsunami affected in Somalia.

It was travelling from Kenyan port of Mombasa to Bossao in the Puntland region of Somalia when the pirates seized the ship on June 27. The WFP had announced the cargo was intended for 28,000 tsunami victims in Somalia.