Seychelles Coast Guard rescues Lankan vessel from pirates

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Seychelles Coast Guard, yesterday, rescued a Sri Lankan fishing trawler with six crew members, seized by a group of pirates in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya, Media Director of the Navy, told journalists.

The Navy Spokesperson said three pirates, too, have been arrested, and the rescued Sri Lankan fishermen, and the multi-day fishing vessel named Lorenzo Putha 4, are being taken to the capital of the Seychelles.

Wickramasuriya said the Seychelles carried out a rescue operation following the request made by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Earlier, Susantha Kahawatta, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, told the media on Sunday that the vessel was taken around 1,160 nautical miles away from the Sri Lankan maritime boundary.