India has lived up to its tradition of being the first responder during crisis in the neighbourhood

In a humanitarian gesture reflective of the goodwill and friendship between India and Sri Lanka and their peoples, an Indian fishing vessel rescued six distressed Sri Lankan fishermen and their boat.

A Sri Lankan fishing vessel, Lulu-01, bearing registration number IMUL-A-0039-TLE was facing considerable difficulties in deep waters on December 2, said a statement of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka on Thursday.

It was sighted by an Indian fishing boat, 24 nautical miles North of Chennai.

Concerned for the safety of the Sri Lankan vessel and the people on board, the Indian fishing boat successfully towed the Sri Lankan vessel to the safety of Adani Port, Kattupalli.

All the four crew members of the Sri Lankan vessel are safe and have been provided necessary assistance by Indian authorities.

India has lived up to its tradition of being the first responder during crisis in the neighbourhood.

Earlier in July this year, a merchant ship had rescued 6 Sri Lankan fishermen off the Chennai coast.

On July 5, MV YM Summit, a bulk carrier cargo ship on its way to Vishakhapatnam had sighted a capsized fishing boat with the six fishermen and had alerted the Indian Coast Guard before picking them up.

An Indian Coast Guard statement, following the rescue operation, had then said, “India has always sought greater cooperation amongst its maritime neighbours and believes in strengthening the collaborative framework for ensuring safety of mariners and fishermen at sea.”

“India and Sri Lanka have a robust cooperative framework in place in the form of a MoU between the Coast Guards and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres of both countries,” it had stated.

“The Indian Coast Guard is resolved towards providing search and rescue cover in the vast indomitable sea areas and also highlights the synergy and cooperation between the Merchant Marine and the Indian Coast Guard towards safety of lives at sea,” it informed.