A rescue operation is underway for the crew of the multi-day fishing vessel “Meenu Baba 1”, which has been left stranded roughly 100 nautical miles off Sri Lanka after suffering technical failure at sea, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage said on Monday.
Initial reports indicate the boat suffered a failure in its internal electrical system, leaving it disabled and unable to operate normally. Gamage said the Sri Lanka Navy has been informed, while fisheries officials have alerted nearby vessels to assist.
Instructions have been issued for the closest available boat to reach the location, assess the condition of the stranded vessel and safely transfer the crew. Authorities are also exploring anchoring the disabled boat to a buoy to keep it stable while recovery efforts continue. The Fisheries Ministry said it is coordinating with the Navy and other stakeholders for a swift intervention.
The vessel had departed the Beruwala fishing harbour on April 26, and communication between the crew and their families was lost after May 14 — nearly a fortnight of silence that had raised growing concern over their safety before the distress call.
The incident adds to a steady run of multi-day boat emergencies in recent weeks, including the rescue of an injured fisherman off Tangalle and a Navy operation to assist a vessel in distress 81 nautical miles off Galle. The Navy last week also coordinated a multi-vessel rescue off Galle involving an Indonesian crew.
Source: NewsFirst.
