Sri Lankan Navy personnel carry a rescued Myanmar fisherman.

TWELVE Myanmar fishermen were rescued by Sri Lankan Navy vessels on November 30 and brought safely to Tricomalee Naval Base at around midnight on the same day, the navy said in a statement on their website.

The fishermen were first sighted by Senaka 8, a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, and reported to local authorities, the statement said.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources requested navy authorities assist them and they promptly dispatched two vessels for the rescue mission. The fishermen were found in deep waters 150 nautical miles, or 278 kilometres, from Sri Lanka’s east coast and were quickly taken to the mainland, the statement said.

The fishermen were provided with emergency medical assistance at a Naval Hospital and authorities took measures to ensure their wellbeing.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the fishermen did not have any documentation or identification. But police sources told the newspaper that articles found with them in the fishing craft had been sufficient proof of their nationality. Police are conducting further inquiries into the incident.