The New Zealand owned cargo vessel, captained by a Sri Lankan,which was hijacked by Somalian pirates while sailing from Oman to Dubai reached Somalia on Saturday. The Government has commenced discussions with the pirates through the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kenya, Foreign Ministry sources said.

The ship had seven other Sri Lankan crew and four Filipinos. Sources were unable say at this stage what the hijackers were demanding or anything about the crew members’ health condition. The incident began about three weeks ago and first reports said the crew members were well looked after and were in good health.