Lankan fishermen hopes to be set free soon - Official
February 2, 2011 08:09 am
A group of Sri Lankan fishermen taken captive by Somali pirates have indicated they may be released soon, officials said. One of the three remaining captive fishermen today contacted the local fisheries office and indicated that they may be released, Narendra Rajapksha, Fisheries Ministry spokesman told PTI.
“This was the second time the fishermen made contact with Sri Lanka,” he said.
Two of the five fishermen were shot and killed by the Somalian pirates on board
fishing vessel of “Drshana Putha 6” which left the country on January 4.
Fishermen reportedly said they were captured by the pirates after their vessel
was drifting due to lack of fuel when they made contact with Sri Lanka for the
first time the day before yesterday.
They also informed the fate of two collegues adding that their bodies were
thrown in to waters by the pirates.
Authorities have asked Lankan ambassador in Nairobi to take all possible action
to secure the freedom for the remaining fishermen, Rajapksha said, PTI reports.
