Navy boats fired at in T'mannar

Rafik Jalaldeen

THALAIMANNAR: A large number of boats carrying Indian fishermen had encroached into Sri Lanka's territorial waters north of Thalaimannar on Monday evening, and shots have been directed at navy boats from among them.

Navy spokesman Commander D.P.K. Dassanayake said the Navy detected a large number of Indian fishing boats entering Sri Lanka's territorial waters close to Iranathivu on Monday around 6.00 p.m.

"As some waved for assistance from one boat, two Naval inshore patrol craft approached the cluster of Indian fishing boats coming towards our territorial waters. Suddenly, the Naval patrol came under fire from an Indian trawler," he added.

Commander Dassanayake pointed out that the LTTE was using Indian fishing boats and mingled with the fishermen to carry out terrorist activities.

"We suspect that LTTE cadres disguised as Indian fishermen were in some of the boats," he added.

He said it was a common occurrence to observe Indian fishing boats in large numbers entering Sri Lankan's territorial waters.