Off the wire
• (Recast) Urgent: Home-made bomb found at Myanmar airport  • Roundup: Australia is faced with difficult energy policy choices  • Building safety to be checked after deadly collapse in E China  • Raptors blowout Sixers with season-best 122 points  • Feature: Cubans vow to carry forward Fidel's ideals  • 2nd LD: Thai Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn to be proclaimed as new king  • 2 would-be suicide bombers affiliated with IS detained in Afghanistan  • Spotlight: Syrian army reclaims control of northeast Aleppo as rebel defenses collapse  • Urgent: Home-made bomb found at Myanmar capital's airport  • 1st LD Writethru: S.Korean president to follow parliamentary decision including shortened presidency  
You are here: 　 Home

Sri Lanka seeks Yemeni govt help to secure release of sailors

Xinhua, November 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka has requested the government of Yemen to help rescue 26 sailors, including nine Sri Lankans, who have been caught by Yemeni pirates, officials at the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry said here on Tuesday.

The sailors were caught nearly two months ago and are currently aboard the Greek vessel 'Fair Appollon,' which is anchored at the Port of Hodeidah in Yemen.

They were taken hostage at sea between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The pirates have have demanded ransom from the company that owns the ship for the release of the 9 Sri Lankans.

Foreign Ministry officials said that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Yemen was doing its best to secure the safe release of the hostages and they had been instructed to update Colombo on the latest developments.

Local media reports said that representative of the owning company of the ship had been summoned, and discussions were held, regarding the Sri Lankan hostages being freed.

The trapped Sri Lankan sailors told a local television station via telephone that they have been held captive by Yemeni pirates for a period of two months, and were facing a number of issues including the lack of food and water. Endit