Lankan fishing boat found in Maldivian waters

A Sri Lankan fishing vessel has been found in the Maldivian internal waters, near Dhiffushimaadhoo, an island in the central northern atoll of Lhaviyani.

The Maldivian National Defense Forces (MNDF) today reported that the vessel had five people aboard. Although it was a fishing boat, the crew did not have any fish with them.

A coastguard vessel traveled to the area last night around 1:30 am after they had reports of a boat about to wreck on the eastern reefs of Dhiffushi.

The MNDF today said that the boat’s engine stopped functioning after the battery set had a technical problem, and that it was apparently taken into the Maldivian waters by ocean current.

The boat did not have an anchor either, and the MNDF is now trying to anchor the boat with an anchor obtained from a nearby island.