The fate of the six Sri Lankans on board the MV Albedo which was hijacked by Somali pirates is unknown. The External Affairs Ministry said yesterday. The External Affairs Ministry and the Sri Lankan Consul General in Karachi have not been informed of the whereabouts of the Sri Lankan seamen.

However, Pakistani officials announced yesterday that the seven Pakistanis who had been held hostage since November 2010 were to arrive in Karachi yesterday. The officials confirmed to the media that all seven Pakistani seamen had been brought to safety

The Malaysian-flagged container ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates was released earlier. Of the 22 sailors held hostage, seven are from Pakistan, seven from Bangladesh, six from Sri Lanka, one from India and one from Iran.

One Indian sailor had died since the vessel was hijacked two years ago. (Dianne Silva)