UNHCR Headquarters in New York in a statement commended the Sri Lankan government for rescuing the 71 foreign job seekers and bringing them ashore.

“We also commend the government for its commitment to international obligations in allowing the survivors to disembark and providing them with necessary medical relief,” the statement said.

UNHCR is in close contact with both high-level and government officials and is awaiting unhindered access to the people in question, once they are moved out of the restricted military zone where the naval base is situated and to a police- and civilian-administered area.

Sri Lanka Navy on March 3 rescued 50 Myanmar nationals and 21 Bangladesh citizens who were marooned in the sea for 13 days at a distance of 150 nautical miles off the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

Arrangements are now being made to hand them over to the respective embassies and diplomatic missions through the Foreign Ministry for repatriation upon the completion of the legal formalities.