Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath has reportedly assured the National Shoora Council (NSC) that necessary action will be taken on its proposal to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to seafarers stranded aboard Iranian civilian vessels near Sri Lanka. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning, NSC Administrative Coordinator, attorney-at-law A J M Arshad said that Herath had responded by letter dated Tuesday (13), assuring the Council that action would be taken as proposed. "Herath has thanked us for conveying the issue and has acknowledged our demands and has vowed to address them all," he said.

The NSC had written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 9 October, with a copy to the Herath, seeking urgent humanitarian assistance for Iranian, Indian and Bangladeshi seafarers stranded aboard Iranian civilian vessels within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In its appeal, the NSC urged the Government to ensure that humanitarian assistance at sea is provided based on the needs of those affected, irrespective of the vessels’ flags or the nationalities of the crew members. The Council also called for coordinated relief operations involving the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Colombo, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross. These operations, it proposed, should assess the crew members’ needs, provide essential supplies such as drinking water, food and medicine, and evacuate sick or injured seafarers for immediate medical treatment. Among its other proposals, the Council called on the Government to engage with Iran, India, Bangladesh and other relevant flag States and countries of the seafarers’ nationalities to ensure the provision of supplies, crew welfare and repatriation.

Further, he said that the NSC welcomes Herath's assurance and said that it is likely to appoint a team to coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, if required.

Repeated attempts to contact Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and the Director General of International Security Cooperation and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry Thushara Rodrigo were unsuccessful.