Somali Pirates demand USD 20 million to release the Saudi oil tanker with thirteen Sri Lankan crew members, says Sri Lankan consul general in Jeddah. Saudi tanker Al Nisr Al Saudi was captured by Somali pirates two weeks ago.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Safarullah Khan said, “The captain of the ship has contacted the company and informed that all thirteen Sri Lankan crew members are in good health”.

International Committee of Red Cross was not given permission to visit the ship though the pirates have allowed crew members to contact their relatives.

Captured Sri Lankan crew members are Jacob Xavier, Venice Robinson Parceloan, Hewapatige Iranga Jayasinghe, Robert Joseph, Vijemuni Elmo Anslam Zoysa, Selvarasa Rajavale, Balakrishnan Jeyarajan, Kanagasabhapathi Dushyanthan, Arumaisekaran Basil Raja, Luxmikanthan Kajendran, Arogyasami Pillai Brito Laurence, Savarimuthu Athputha Raja and Rajagopal Jeyakumar.

“Pirates are contacting us to negotiate the ransom but they are not thinking on humanitarian terms. However, they promised us that they will not harm anyone” the consul general said.

According to him Sri Lankan diplomatic officials were not able to establish direct contacts with the pirates while having to rely on the information given by captors to families in Sri Lanka.

Pirates are asking for a twenty million US dollar ransom to release the ship and its crew along with the Greek captain. Negotiation is taking place between the company and pirates and the consul general is hopeful that the matter can be resolved soon.

“Normally it takes about three months but we never know they may even release the crew tomorrow or can keep them for longer” he added.

The tanker, travelling from Japan to Jeddah, was empty when pirates hijacked the vessel and took its crew captive. – (BBC)