Seychelles and Sri Lankan Forces Rescue Six Fishermen From Suspected Pirates
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The joint effort between the Seychelles military forces and the Sri Lankan navy successfully rescued six Sri Lankan nationals aboard a hijacked fishing vessel. The Seychelles forces led the operation from the Coast Guard vessel, Topaz. The rescued crew are reported to be safe and are expected to arrive in Seychelles on Tuesday, accompanied by three suspected Somali sea pirates detained by the Seychelles forces during the operation.
Commander in Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, President Wavel Ramkalawan, has praised the Special Forces and Coast Guards for their role in intercepting the Sri Lankan fishing vessel hijacked by armed Somali pirates. The President expressed his congratulations to Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette, for the well-executed mission through a State House release issued on Monday evening. The framing of the operation as a successful demonstration of the new spirit in the force is in line with the broader narrative around the modernisation of the Seychelles Defence Forces.
This is the spirit of the Seychelles Defence Forces. Professionalism, courage and bravery are the tenets of the new spirit in the force. Though small, we will make our contribution in attaining maritime security, peace and determination in the fight against terrorism to ensure that the world, especially in our part of the Indian Ocean remains a safe and peaceful region, President Ramkalawan’s statement emphasised. The operation is the latest in a series of anti-piracy actions led by the Seychelles forces in recent years, often in cooperation with regional and international partners.
According to Sri Lankan news reports, the six fishermen embarked on their journey aboard the ‘Lorenzo Putha 7′ from the Dikkowita Fishery Harbour on January 12. The vessel was reported missing shortly after, and a search was launched that eventually traced it to waters north of Seychelles. The exact location of the rescue has not been disclosed, but the operation is understood to have taken place in the open ocean rather than in Seychelles’ own territorial waters, and the Seychelles-led approach allowed the joint force to act quickly once the vessel had been located.
Once again, I reiterate the pride and confidence of the Seychellois nation in the Seychelles Defence Forces, the statement concluded. The rescued fishermen are expected to arrive in Seychelles on Tuesday, where they will be processed and arrangements made for their return to Sri Lanka. The three suspected pirates will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation and any subsequent prosecution. The Seychelles government has not yet released further details about the operation, but a fuller account is expected once the rescued crew have been debriefed.
