The government is taking every possible measure to rescue nine Sri Lankan sailors detained at a port near the border of Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that these sailors had been detained over a commercial dispute between the cargo receiver in the Port of Hodeidah and the cargo supplier which is Keystone Oil and Gas Company.
He was responding to a question by Joint Opposition leader MP Dinesh Gunawardane under Standing Order 23(2).
The deputy minister stressed that no ransom was demanded to release these sailors.
“As per the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman and the Consul General in Dubai, the shipping company has not received any ransom by any party to release the crew,” the deputy minister said.
The deputy foreign minister said Sri Lanka has sought Indian assistance to secure the release of the sailors as they are working for an Indian company.
Nine sailors including L.A.P.Silva, L.Bulegoda, K.D.U.C.Premaratne, A.C.P.Premaratne, K.S.S.Ratnayake, C.A.A.Antony, A.I.P.Bandara, A.Rohan and V.W.D.S.Dharshana were caught nearly two months ago and are currently aboard a Greek vessel ‘Fair Appollon,’ which is currently moored at the Port of Hodeidah, which is in an area that the Yemeni government does not control.
He said the rescue operation has been delayed due to communication difficulties in this area due to the control of Yemeni pirates.
MP Dinesh Gunawardane said that there is a calculated risk on the lives of these sailors.
According to the family members of the sailors, the shipping company has not paid salaries for these sailors and as a result, family members have to face various difficulties. The MP asked the government to look in to the matter.
The deputy minister said that the Merchant Shipping Secretariat and the Foreign Affairs Ministry jointly will take measures to negotiate the release of these sailors.
“On the direction of Sri Lankan Embassy, officials in Oman and the Dubai Consulate are working with the owners of the Greek ship Fair Appollon to rescue the nine Sri Lankan sailors. With the intervention of the Embassy and the Consul General in Dubai, the shipping company has already taken measures to provide fuel, food, and water without any shortage,” the deputy minister said.