SLN seeks intl. help to secure release of Lankan fishermen abducted by Somali pirates

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Sri Lanka Navy has sought the assistance of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to secure the release of a Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessel that was hijacked on Saturday (27) by Somali pirates, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya, Media Director of the Navy, told journalists on Sunday (28).

CMF is an international naval partnership that provides security for civilian maritime traffic by conducting counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions in the heavily trafficked waters of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

Wickramasuriya said the multi-day fishing vessel named, Lorenzo Putha 4, had six crew members when it was seized by an armed group.

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 off the Sri Lankan maritime boundary.

He said there were about 30 multi-day fishing vessels in the vicinity of Lorenzo Putha 4 when it was seized by pirates.Kahawatta said all communications with the vessel had ceased as those who had taken the vessel had switched off communication devices.

According to Kahawatta, all six crew members are from Chilaw.The Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources added that three crew members are from the same family.Kahawatta said this is the maiden voyage of Lorenzo Putha 4, and they assume the vessel was targeted because it was brand new.