Two Sri Lankans are among a crew of 11 employees belonging to the MV Asab that has been out at sea for months and are now seeking immediate help to reach shore.
The distraught crew of 11 members include chief engineer Jijo Joseph from Thodupuzha in Idukki, captain Pradeep Reddy,a native of Andhra Pradesh, two Sri Lankans and a few from Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana, Manorama Online
Pic courtesy Manorama Online
The ship is under Alco Shipping Services LLC owned by Sayed Isaj Hassan from Pakistan. It supplies fuel to ships anchoring on various ports. The ship, last sailing from the port of Hamriya, has been on the move for the past six months.
The crew were not given any further directives from the company’s management after they received instructions to move to Malta for sub-contracting work. On June 2nd this year, officers from the Sharjah Coastal Security force confiscated the passports and other documents of the crew. They would return the documents if the ship’s management contacted the coast guard. The company assured the crew a retireval of their documents, however nothing has been done as yet.
Jijo and his crew cannot approach a port to set an anchor without the passport and other documents. The ship has employees with pending salaries ranging from 350 to 2500 dollars. Most have lost their patience and want to just return home, even if they have to forfeit their pending earnings.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he wholly rejects the Batalanda Commission report and that it was appointed wholly with the intention slinging political mud at him.
Leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) and one time Propaganda Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa accused the Government of bringing back the “Batalanda Commission” for a media spectacle instead of a genuine concern for those who suffered during the 1988-1990 period.
Leave Comments