20 crew members of MT New Diamond brought to Hambantota Port

A total of twenty crew members of the crude oil tanker MT New Diamond were brought to the Hambantota Port by the Sri Lanka Navy this morning, Navy Spokesman Captain Indika De Silva said.

They were brought to port by the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) Sindurala. All crew members were transferred to an isolated place in Galle in line with COVID-19 preventive measures and under the directions of the Sri Lanka Navy.

“Samples were taken from the crew members for PCR tests. All crew members are in good health,” Captain De Silva said

Meanwhile, Air Force Spokesman Dushan Wijesinghe said SLAF used a Bell 212 Helicopter to drop another 500 kilos of Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) on the oil tanker today to control the fire.

“This was done upon a request by the Sri Lankan Navy last evening. There is a possibility of reigniting the fire,” he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)