Kenyans stranded in SL headed home

16 Oct 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kenyan crewmembers of a Taiwanese ship that had been stranded in Sri Lanka for the last 10 months finally headed home.

Six Kenyans and two Chinese of the fishing vessel FV TAI YUAN 227 had been stranded in the Colombo Port since January 23, when they sailed to Colombo after Somali pirates freed them.

On Saturday the Mombasa-based Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP) announced they were on their way back.

Andrew Mwangura, a director with SAP, said that he had received a call on Thursday from the crew saying they were at the Colombo airport heading to Kenya.

Mwangura said the men sailed for ten days from Somalia to Colombo.

After being dumped in Colombo, the crew reported their ordeal to the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Inspector at the Port of Colombo, Ranjan Perera, who is also secretary of the National Union of Seafarers of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Perera told Mwangura that the ITF’s London office was trying to find ways of helping the abandoned crew.

"The Taiwanese ship owner is bankrupt and the ship had been taken to a court of law in Colombo," he said.

Pirates held the ship in May last year. (standardmedia.co.ke)

Breaking News

Kenyans stranded in SL headed home

Most Popular Articles

Alleged mastermind behind Rs. 210 Billion illegal Dollar transfer network arrested

More arrests of lawyers, politicians and senior police officers

Girl visited her lover, gang raped by lover and his friends

Country loses US $ 1 billion in fraudulent transactions, certain banks involved

Rupee depreciates further against US Dollar

Hold SLC elections or get blacklisted, ICC informs President AKD

Latest News

Guaranteed paddy prices announced for 2026 Yala season

BOI gets new chairman and members

Health Ministry promotes dengue hotline

Sri Lanka amends National Environmental Act to strengthen environmental protection

CSE ends lower as profit-taking and cautious sentiment weigh ahead of earnings season