The Sri Lankan fishing vessel, located in Maldivian waters on Monday, has since reached Uligamu island of Haa Alifu atoll.

A spokesperson at the Maldives National Defence Force said that the vessel reached Uligamu at around 6:15 am on Tuesday, with the assistance of Coast Guard 'Shaheedh Ali'; 'Rashani' was located near Thuraakunu island in the same atoll at around 3:15 pm the previous day. A total of seven people were onboard the boat at the time.

Noting that the boat had drifted away due to engine failure, MNDF said that Sri Lankan authorities are now working to send a vessel 'to tow it back to Lanka'.

According to MNDF, Rashani is one of the 67 fishing vessels reported missing due to Cyclone Ockhi, 37 from India and 30 from Sri Lanka.