Navy rescues foreign fishermen

Rafik Jalaldeen

The Navy rescued 12 foreign fishermen who were found on a distressed multi-day fishing vessel in the seas 300km east of Sangamankandai Sunday night. The rescued crew were brought to the Galle harbour yesterday morning. Navy spokesman Captain Athula Senarat said a vessel with crew including 11 Indonesian nationals and a Thai national on a multi-day fishing trawler in the seas 300 km off Sangamankandai was observed by another Multi-day fishing trawler named as Sanju Putha in the vicinity.

Later it was found that the fishing vessel was sinking after an accidental fire on board. The multi-day fishing vessel belonged to a Sri Lankan fishing company, he said.

Acting on information, the Navy rescued the crew. “Subsequently the Navy was informed by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department about the incident.

The navy ship Shakthi was dispatched on rescue mission. The Sanju Putha fishing trawler assisted the Naval ship Shakthi in the mission” Captain Senarat said.