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Sri Lankan Fishing Vessel Freed After Robbery At Sea

By ecop-marine

According to local sources and newspaper in Sri Lanka the five fishermen return after 33 days on the sea.

The fishermen were captured with their fishing vessel FV OCEAN 4 allegedly in international waters by assumed Somali pirates after setting off on a fishing expedition from Beruwala harbour on the 22nd of January 2011. Sri Lankan authorities had first claimed there were only four men on board.

The five Sri Lankan fishermen arrived unharmed at the Beruwala fisheries harbour onboard their vessel Ocean 04 after having been released.

According to local newspapers the fishermen who had a miraculous escape were identified as K L D Samantha, 36, of Kalamulla, D Suhada Pushpakumara, 30, of Ethagama, Payagala, Lakshman Perera, 37, of Aluthwatta, Negombo and W Sarath Ranjith Perera, 40, of Pohoratota, Kochchikade with Chandra Pushpakumara Ranaweera, 53, of Mullapitiya as their skipper.

Ranaweera said the pirates seized all goods in their possession except rice. After eating rice for a few days they had to survive mainly on fish they could catch. He said being a diabetic he took his need of drugs and insulin needed for their mission but all that too were forfeited by the pirates. For him most surprising is that these pirates are operating freely in international waters.

Such incidences have now driven fear into the minds of local fishermen about going out fishing again.

Two kidnapped fishermen from the earlier released FV LAKMALI, Mr. Lal Fernando and Mr. Sugath Fernando are said to be still in Somalia.

Background:
FV SAGARA 04 (aka FV OCEAN 04): Seized before February 12., 2010. The Sri Lankan flagged fishing vessel was captured in international waters of the Indian Ocean by presumed Somali pirates between the Lakshadweep chain of islands, which belong to India, and the Maldives after it had ventured out to sea from Beruwala. Four Sri Lankan nationals form the crew, authorities said.

SOURCE: ECOTERRA Intl.