The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commenced diplomatic communications with the Vietnamese authorities to repatriate more than 300 Sri Lankans who have been rescued in Vietnamese waters, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Tuesday (08).
Minister Ali Sabry said that the group of Sri Lankans is being transported to Vietnam and will be handed over to the International Organization for Migration.
Meanwhile, Navy Spokesman Captain Indika de Silva told NewsWire that the Sri Lanka Navy had been informed of a vessel in distress yesterday (07) by Singaporean authorities.
He further said that they had agreed to provide assistance to the vessel but no other details had been received since.
The Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry’s involvement comes after more than 300 Sri Lankans were rescued by a Japanese ship at sea off the Spratly Islands on Monday (07).
Vietnamese newspaper, VN Express International reported that the group was rescued after their fishing vessel was damaged and found adrift.
A spokesperson for the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center said today that the agency received news that the Myanmar-flagged Lady R3 with 303 Sri Lankans suspected to be headed for Canada was in trouble.
On November 5, when it was around 258 nautical miles off Vung Tau on the southern coast, its engine room flooded and the vessel began to drift. There were rough seas at the time.
The center then tried to contact the ship and also broadcast emergency signals to other ships in the vicinity.
At 3 p.m. Monday it found that the Japanese-flagged Helios Leader was in the area, and requested it to make a detour and rescue the people aboard Lady R3.
The Japanese vessel was able to reach the distressed boat, whose crew members were in a state of panic. It then rescued the passengers and provided medical assistance to whoever needed it.
The center also mobilized five other ships and told them to circle the area to provide support if needed.
The VN Express International added that the 264 men, 19 women, and 20 children are safe and expected to reach Vung Tau by Tuesday. (NewsWire)