A search is on for a Sri Lankan seaman who went missing after boarding a cargo vessel that left Colombo Port almost three weeks ago.
Able seaman Samitha Lakmal Perera, 31 years, was last spotted on June 21, barely a day after boarding the Israeli-owned Shim Shicko, according to Palitha Athukorale, president of the Sri Lanka Seafarers’ Association.
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| Lakmal Perera |
Asoka Perera |
The seaman’s parents were informed the next day, as the ship was on its way to the Israeli port of Haifa, Mr. Athukorale said.
Reports from Haifa confirmed that the local authorities were conducting a thorough investigation. The vessel is due to return to Colombo on July 31.
“The vessel makes regular visits to Colombo, so foul play on the part of the ship’s crew may be ruled out – for now at least,” said Sanatha Wickremasinghe, spokesperson for Star Lanka Shipping, the local agent for Shim Shicko.
Mr. Wickremasinghe told The Sunday Times that the agency was keeping an open mind on the matter, and that they were awaiting the ship’s return to Colombo at the end of the month. “We have informed all the respective authorities, including the General Merchant Shipping office, the External Affairs Ministry, and the family of the missing seaman,” he said.
Asoka Perera, father of the missing sailor, said he last heard from his son on the night of June 21, hours before the vessel left the Colombo Port.
“The next day the agent called me to say my son had gone missing some time during the night, and that the crew were searching the vessel,” he said. “There are three other Sri Lankans among the crew. We are hoping they can shed some light on the matter.”
Lakmal Perera joined the crew of the Shim Shico in April, and had already done one voyage to Israel and back.
“My son began sailing in 1998, and has enough experience as a sailor to know how to look after himself at sea,” the sailor’s father said. “Something’s wrong somewhere. Let’s hope we get some answers soon.” |
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