Five remanded for abandoning ship

Mahinda P Liyanage, Galle Daily News correspondent

Galle chief magistrate U S Kulasuriya yesterday remanded a five member crew, including the captain and the engineer of a Tanzanian ship belonging to a Japanese national, who had allegedly reached land at Rumassala, abandoning the ship at sea near Galle Harbour.

Galle Harbour Police produced them before the chief magistrate.

Investigations revealed that a Japanese national had purchased the ship from a Tanzanian shipping company and entrusted a Sri Lankan marine agency firm in Colombo to take it to Japan from Tanzania.

On its way, the five member crew, employed by a marine agency had boarded the ship at the Galle Port.

On their way, the captain and the engineer observed that the fuel and food stock were not sufficient for the journey and informed the agency.

As instructed by the agency, they returned to Colombo to load food and fuel, but were not allowed to enter the port.

They had to sail again to the Galle Harbour as directed by the marine agency, but were not permitted to enter.

The crew then abandoned the ship at sea near Galle and reached land in a fishing boat.

They lodged a complaint on arrival at the Galle Harbour where they were arrested by the Police charging that they contravened the Immigration and Emigration law of the country.

The Harbour Master has made arrangements to bring the floating ship to the Galle harbour for investigations.