MFA to repatriate 303 Lankans from Vietnam after failed migration attempt

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commenced diplomatic communications with the Vietnamese authorities to repatriate more than 300 Sri Lankans rescued by a Japanese ship in Vietnamese waters, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said today. 

Earlier, the Navy said that its Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Colombo sought help from Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines following a distress call it recede from a Sri Lankan national onboard of the vessel.

Navy spokesperson Capt Indika de Silva confirmed to the Times Online that all suspected migrants are scheduled to reach Vietnam with the intervention of relevant authorities and Foreign Ministry will commence the process to repatriate them back home. 

A spokesperson for the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center said Tuesday the agency received news that the Myanmar-flagged Lady R3 with 303 Sri Lankans suspected to be headed for Canada was in trouble, according to foreign media reports.

On November 5, when it was around 258 nautical miles off Vung Tau in the southern coast, its engine room flooded and the vessel began to drift. There were rough seas at the time.

The center then tried to contact the ship and also broadcast emergency signals to other ships in the vicinity.

At 3 p.m. Monday it found that the Japanese-flagged Helios Leader was in the area, and requested it to make a detour and rescue the people aboard Lady R3.

The Japanese vessel was able to reach the distressed boat, whose crew members were in a state of panic. It then rescued the passengers and provided medical assistance to whoever needed it.

The center also mobilized five other ships and told them to circle the area to provide support if needed. The 264 men, 19 women and 20 children are safe and expected to reach Vung Tau by today, reports said.