We ask the Acehnese fishermen to monitor, and when they meet (the Sri Lankan fishermen), they are obliged to provide assistance.
Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Panglima Laot, a traditional organization of Aceh fishermen, on Monday received a report about a Sri Lankan fishing boat that is believed to have drifted out to the province’s territorial waters.

"The information came from Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), which requested us to help monitor and look for a report on the drifting Sri Lankan fishing boat. It is believed that it has entered Aceh's territory," Deputy Secretary þneral of Panglima Laot-Aceh, Miftach Tjut Adek, informed here on Monday.

Adek said the Sri Lankan fishing boat carrying six crew members on board had reportedly lost contact with the authorities since September 18, 2022.

"The possibility is that it is drifting towards Aceh," he added.

He appealed to Acehnese fishermen to help the Sri Lankan fishermen if they meet them in Indonesian waters.

"We ask the Acehnese fishermen to monitor, and when they meet (the Sri Lankan fishermen), they are obliged to provide assistance," he added.

The six Sri Lankan crew of the boat have been identified as Imaduwa Gamge Janitha Sadaruwan Gunarathna, Mahadurage Ranil Warnakulasooriya, Majuwana Gamage Vimukthi Priyankara, Weeramundi Sahayakkarage Lahiru Madushan, Kathawahakuruge Hashan Madushanka Karunarathna, and Abesooriya Patabedige Caminda Kumara.

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Translator: Rahmad Fajri, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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