Cardinal urges action to release Lankans held by Somali pirates

Athapattu Bandara

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith urged the public and authorities to take measures to release seven Sri Lankans captured by Somali pirates 20 months ago.

He further urged that shipping be banned in the seas off Somalia and requested to look into possibilities of suing the shipping companies who send their crew in the seas of Somalia, as they are legally responsible for the lives on board.

The press conference was held with the participation of religious leaders and on the request of relatives of Sri Lankans held hostage by Somalian pirates.

A Sri Lankan crew along with 14 other South Asians and an Iranian on a Malaysia-registered ship were captured by pirates in the Gulf of Eden in November 2010. Vilasini Wakwella, wife of the chief engineer of the ship which was seized en route to Kenya from Dubai said the pirates had asked a ransom of US $ 1.4 million for their release.

"It is just a dream to find that amount by ourselves as we do not have any source of income after the ships crew were captured," she said.

"The salary of captured crew was not paid by the company. We living with a number of difficulties. We cannot afford this amount at all," she lamented.

'We have decided to form an association and seek the support of philanthropists and the government to collect the amount to pay the ransom, as we have no other way of getting our husbands released from pirates."

"We are helpless. We have no one to tell our grievances to and get relief. The DRT shipping company where our husbands are employed has turned a deaf year to our appeals. We are sad when we think of the fate of our husbands who must be enduring the most horrible experience in captivity, she said.

"My husband in hope of being released had inspected the engine of the ship being its chief engineer and had one of his fingers cut off and was threatened with death if the demanded ransom was not paid", she said.

"They were given only one bottle of water for the day and sometimes one meal for the entire day. They are cooped up in one place throughout the day and are leading the most horrible life at the hands of their captors," she added.

"We have decided to open a bank account under the name of Association of Safeguarding the Sri Lanka Sailors and request the support of the public and philanthropists to donate money to save our loved ones. Any clarifications can be made on the following number - 0718127022.

"Seven Pakistani crew members were released by Somali pirates following the payment of a US $1.1 million ransom after being held hostage for 20 months. The Pakistani negotiator had earlier promised us to help get the Sri Lankans, but this did not materalize," she added.

"Therefore, we expect philanthropists to come forward to help our cause," she added.The wives of the other Sri Lankan hostages were also present at the press conference.