Human Rights Groups Urge Sri Lanka to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to Foreign Seafarers Caught in War

Human rights organisations have called on the Sri Lankan Government to intervene and provide humanitarian assistance to crews of foreign vessels affected by ongoing conflicts and currently stranded or anchored near Sri Lankan waters.

Representatives of the United Human Rights Organisation and the International Human Rights Council visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to submit a memorandum calling for the necessary legal and administrative arrangements to be made to provide humanitarian assistance to seafarers and crew members aboard foreign vessels, including Iranian vessels, operating near Sri Lanka's maritime borders.

The representatives said they had sought the Ministry's intervention to ensure that the affected seafarers could receive essential humanitarian assistance.

However, they claimed that they were unable to meet a responsible official at the Ministry to formally discuss the matter.

According to the representatives, security personnel at the Ministry attempted to facilitate contact with a responsible official after considering the international and humanitarian significance of the issue. However, they alleged that no responsible official came forward to accept the memorandum or meet with the delegation.

The delegation subsequently handed the memorandum to security personnel at the Ministry premises.

Speaking to the media afterwards, the representatives stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should intervene in the matter and take appropriate action.

They said ensuring the safety and welfare of foreign seafarers on humanitarian grounds was an international responsibility and called on the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give the matter immediate attention and take the necessary steps.