Navy assists TN fishermen

The Sri Lanka Navy provided logistical support for the eight Indian nationals to arrive in the island in coordination with Indian Authorities.

Naval authorities also took measures to ensure the safety and the welfare of the Indian Nationals during their brief stay here.

The eight Indian nationals expressed their heartfelt gratitude and thanked the Sri Lankan Government and the Sri Lanka Navy for the support and cooperation shown towards them in a time of grief and loss.

They were moved by the Naval authority’s concern and care shown during final religious rites.

Eight Indian fishermen were reported missing in Indian waters when two fishing craft capsized on July 14 and 15.

Vallum No: RMS 3527/CV with four occupants was reported capsized off Arichamunai, near Rameshwaram on July 14 by Indian Authorities and Trawler No: TN/10/MFB/19 was reported missing on July 15 with the four crew members by Indian Officials.

Sri Lanka Navy, having been officially notified on July 17 carried out an elaborate Search and Rescue operation covering the sea area and then the shoreline.

Subsequently seven bodies were recovered on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, several other bodies in a highly decomposed state washed ashore on August 7.

Later the remains were handed over to the Police for judicial process and were kept at the Jaffna General Hospital Mortuary till identification was arranged through Indian Officials.

Sections of the Tamil Nadu based media with vested interests accused the Sri Lanka Navy of attacking the two fishing craft.

Many words were churned out by these media spin doctors, funded by the remnants of the defeated LTTE terrorist outfit to sling mud at the Sri Lankan Government and the Sri Lanka Navy in particular, knowing well that these craft capsized within Indian waters and one body was even recovered out of a total of eight in Indian waters.