Lost fishermen return

Kumarasiri PRASAD

The five fishermen at the BIA. Picture by Kumarasiri Prasad, Airport Correspondent

The five Sri Lankan fishermen on board fishing vessel ‘Sankara Putha II’ which was rescued by a group of Indonesian fishermen arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday.

This fishing vessel carrying five Sri Lankans was in distress when a group of Indonesian fishermen found it in the high seas off Sumatra Islands.

They were later handed over to the Indonesian Navy. The five fishermen, all residents of Ambalangoda and Balapitiya are Pradeep Amila Sandaruwan, K.H. Kamal Priyantha, G.W. Asanka Ryan Silva, A Nalin Kumara and S. Suranga Perera.

According to Pradeep Amila Sandaruwan, they have been provided with food and water by a large fishing vessel but the fishermen on board the vessel had refused to rescue them.

Sandaruwan said that they were rescued by a small fishing vessel and they were given all facilities by the Indonesian Navy.

He thanked the Indonesian Navy for providing all facilities to them during the time they were under the Indonesian Navy care.