10 passengers have been rescued after a boat travelling from Kurikattuwan Jetty in Jaffna to Delft Island met with an accident near Nainativu (Nagadeepa) on Sunday (16), the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources said.
The boat was carrying eight men and two women when the accident occurred.
Following information about the incident, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar contacted the Sri Lanka Navy and instructed that an immediate rescue operation be launched.
The Navy, with the assistance of residents of Nainativu and Delft, rescued all 10 passengers. They were subsequently admitted to the Nainativu Hospital for further treatment.
The minister has called for a detailed report on the cause of the accident and instructed officials to investigate whether sufficient life jackets had been provided to passengers and whether required safety procedures had been followed.
Chandrasekar also instructed officials to ensure strict compliance with maritime passenger safety procedures and take measures to prevent similar incidents. (Newswire)