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Colombo, Dec 18 (NIA) – The Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd, one of the largest Japanese transportation companies, has appreciated the support of the Sri Lanka Navy in releasing one of its Vehicles Carrier which was held hostage by a group of temporary employees at the Hambantota Port, recently.
The Sri Lanka Navy, in a statement said The Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd, shipping agent of the Vehicles Carrier, MV Hyperion Highway extended its sincere gratitude and thanks to Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and Sri Lanka Navy for taking prompt action to rescue the ship from the grip of the saboteurs who created panic at the Port of Hambantota on Dec 10.
“Further, the shipping agent was extremely delighted by the measures taken by the Navy enabling the MV Hyperion Highway to sail to its next port of call in Oman even amidst the turbulent situation. Accordingly, the timely involvement of the Navy made a significant difference in preserving the goodwill of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Navy in the international arena,” the navy statement said.
The shipping company, in a letter to the Sri Lanka Navy said that if not for the direction and action by the Sri Lanka Navy, there would have been irreparable loss caused to the reputation of Sri Lanka as a safe destination for the international shipping community.
The Japanese vessel was held hostage for four days by the striking employees who demanded they be employed into the permanent cadre.
The Sri Lanka Navy had to be called in to free the ship for it to proceed to its next destination, Oman.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said last week that the loss incurred per day by the Japanese vessel was 100,000 US dollars and the government had received a 400,000 US dollar bill.
Government legislators have alleged that opposition politicians backed by former President Mahinda Rajapakse were behind the protest held by the 480 temporary employees.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., is the sixteenth largest container transportation and shipping company in the world.
Ever since the vessel was held hostage, no international shipping vessels have arrived at the strategic Hambantota Port.
