According to sources in the Sri Lankan navy and defence ministry, at least 101 people are missing, 1 is dead and 78 others have been injured.

The sources claimed that the ship has now sunk. It is unclear who was responsible for the attack.

A Sri Lankan Navy spokesman stated that the report of 101 missing people was 'false' and that 32 injured people were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy and are being treated in hospital.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister told the parliament in an earlier session that the navy responded to a distress?call?from the vessel and began rescue operations at 6 a.m. (1230 GMT).

"At this point, we only know that 79 people have been rescued and taken to hospital. One of them is seriously injured." A further 101 people are missing, and the ship is believed to have sunk, according to a Sri Lankan Navy source who declined to give his name as he wasn't authorised to talk to the media.

One of the sources said that one of the patients brought to hospital died.

The Foreign Minister,?Vijitha Heath, did not provide any further details to parliament. However she said that the military rescued at least 30 people on board and said Sri Lanka will take appropriate actions.

Local media reported that the ship signaled 'it was in distress' off the coast of Galle, in southern Sri Lanka. The injured were then admitted to a local hospital. (Reporting and writing by Uditha Jaisinghe, editing by Toby Chopra).

(source: Reuters)