Twelve Burmese fishermen rescued in Sri Lanka

by Salai Pi Pi
Tuesday, 01 December 2009 17:42

New Delhi (Mizzima) - The Sri Lankan Navy has rescued 12 Burmese fishermen from two fishing boats adrift in deep sea of Sri Lanka’s eastern coast.

A Sri Lankan Naval Headquarter official in Colombo, told Mizzima on Tuesday that the Burmese fishermen were rescued by the navy after local Sri Lankan fishermen, who were on their way to Tricomalee, tipped them off.

Following the tip-off, two naval vessels recued the Burmese nationals from two boats about 150 nautical miles from the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

The navy official said, the Sri Lankan fishermen had reported that they sighted the first boat with five fishermen from Burma on November 26, and spotted the second one with seven Burmese crew members on November 28.

“It appears that they had technical problems and drifted into the region from Burma,” the official added. “I don’t think they illegally entered Sri Lanka waters.”

“They also stated that they are from Myanmar [Burma],” he added.

The Burmese were handed over to the Tricomalee harbour police station for further investigations, on how they had entered Sri Lankan waters.

The official said, the Burmese Embassy in Colombo had been informed of the rescue and detention of the Burmese nationals.

The Burmese Embassy in Colombo, however, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.