Aug 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry has said that the Sri Lankan mission in Kenya is currently negotiating with the pirates for assurances about the Sri Lankan crew onboard the Panama flagged merchant vessel which was hijacked by Somali pirates early in the month.

External Affairs Ministry sources have been quoted in the local media today (24) as saying the Sri Lankan embassies in Kenya and Washington have been asked earlier to obtain more information regarding the hijacking of the vessel with Sri Lankan's onboard.

A Ministry spokesperson has reportedly said that because Sri Lanka does not have a Mission in Somalia, the Embassy in Kenya had been asked to establish contact with the Somali pirates to seek the release of the Sri Lankans.

Somali Pirates hijacked the Panama-flagged MV Suez cargo vessel with 23 crew on board early on August 2. The vessel had reportedly come under small arms fire from the pirates and minutes later the pirates had got on board the ship.