Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has revealed plans to make it compulsory for all passengers travelling by sea to wear lifejackets. State Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Ahmed Adhil made the announcement while speaking with PSM News at a press briefing.
State Minister Adhil said there have been recent tragic incidents at sea and travelling needs to be monitored to maintain safety. The state minister noted the captain of each vessel must urge all travellers to wear lifejackets, adding enough life lifejackets for all the passengers on-board must be kept on the vessel. He noted wearing lifejackets will not be an inconvenience for the passengers, highlighting it would be made compulsory for all passengers to wear lifejackets within the next two weeks. He said tourists and other visitors to the country continue to travel wearing lifejackets while at sea, adding locals should also follow the regulations.
The public has been urging the authorities to make it compulsory for sea travellers to wear lifejackets after five people including a child were killed in a recent tragic incidence at sea when a speedboat capsized due to bad weather conditions.