Sri Lanka offered to help locate missing fishing boat - China

COLOMBO (News 1st); China said that Sri Lanka and several other countries have extended emergency assistance with regard to the Chinese distant-water fishing boat “Lupeng Yuanyu 028” that capsized while passing through the central part of the Indian Ocean.

The Chinese distant-water fishing boat “Lupeng Yuanyu 028” capsized while passing through the central part of the Indian Ocean on May 16.

Thirty-nine crew members on board are missing and emergency search and rescue operation is underway, said the Chiese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.

He said the operation has drawn close attention from across the region and countries such as Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Maldives and the Philippines have extended emergency assistance and sent sympathies for the Chinese boat and crew.

He said that the Chinese government sincerely appreciates the help from those countries as the search and rescue operation is still underway.