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Seychelles rescues Sri Lankan crew abducted by Somali pirates
The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) with the Seychelles Coast Guard led an operation to regain control of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel abducted by armed Somali pirates, State House said on Monday.
According to the SDF, they were alerted by Sri Lanka of the hijacking and deployed a rescue mission by patrol ship Topaz. The mission is still ongoing.
The vessel, Lorenza Putha, and its crew are due to be brought to the Port of Victoria on Tuesday.
The Commander in Chief of the SDF, President Wavel Ramkalawan, has congratulated the Special Forces and Coast Guard team on a well executed and successful mission.
He said that this is the spirit of the Seychelles Defence Forces; professionalism, courage and bravery are the tenets of the new spirit in the force.
“Though small, we will make our contribution in attaining maritime security, peace, and determination in the fight against terrorism to ensure that the world, especially in our part of the Indian Ocean remains a safe and peaceful region. Once again, I reiterate the pride and confidence of the Seychellois nation in the Seychelles Defence Forces,” he said.
According to the American daily newspaper, The Washington Post, the fishing vessel and its six crew members were suspected of being abducted by Somali pirates two days ago. It added that “The apparent abduction came two weeks after Sri Lanka said it would join a U.S.-led operation to protect merchant vessels sailing in the Red Sea against attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.”
The Washington Post wrote that “the hijacking of the Sri Lankan vessel occurred in international waters about 840 nautical miles (1,555 kilometers) east of Somalia, 1,100 nautical miles (2,040 kilometers) from Sri Lanka and north of the Seychelles, according to Sri Lankan navy spokesman Capt. Gayan Wickramasuriya.”
(Seychelles News Agency)
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal forwarded by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala, the officer
in the special grade of Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service currently serving as the Additional Surveyor General (Central) to the post of Surveyor General with effect from 02.02.2026.
Latest News
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
The instructions required for granting relief to farmers for the short term crops devastated due to the extreme weather have been issued through Budget Circular No. 08/2025 and 08/2025 (i).
Considering the economic importance of the export agriculture sector, the requirement of re planting long term export agricultural crops that were destroyed by the floods and landslides, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the
resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to pay the cultivators engaged in pepper, coffee and cardamom an
allowance subject to a maximum of rupees 425,000/- per hectare for replanting as well as to provide seedlings free of charge from the Department of Export Agriculture.
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Cabinet approves implementation of National Strategic Action tion Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings – 2026- 2030
Sri Lanka has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention against Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially against Women and Children, which is a treaty for the enforcement of its provisions.
Accordingly, the National Task Force on Trafficking in Persons was established in 2010 for the coordination of institutions that are interested and actively involved in the prevention of
trafficking in persons. The aforementioned task force has been operating in terms of the action plan prepared for a definite period, and the period of the final national strategic action plan for the period 2021-2025 has ended on 31-12-2025.
Therefore, having reviewed the progress of the aforementioned action plan. The national strategic action plan for the period 2026-2030 has been prepared with the consensus and knowledge of all relevant parties, consisting of four approaches:
protection, litigation (complaints), and partnership.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister
of Defense, to implement the aforementioned national strategic action plan.
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
Cabinet nod to obtain diagnostic reports under public-private partnership
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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