Divers nabbed with conch shells

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Naval personnel attached to SLNS Uththara of the Northern Naval Command arrested 15 divers who had collected conch shells in the seas off Madagal on Wednesday. Sixty four conch shells, 15 diving masks and two FGDs were seized by the Navy.

The suspects, conch shells and the equipment were handed over to the Kankesanthurai Police for the further investigations.

Meanwhile, Naval Patrol Vessel P148 attached to the North-central Naval Command intercepted a 29- year- old male attempting to enter Sri Lanka by swimming across the seas off Thalaimannar on Wednesday.

Investigations revealed that he is a former resident of Thinnavelli, Thirugalvel and had gone to India in 2008.

He had boarded an Indian trawler paying 20,000 Indian rupees with the intention of landing in Sri Lanka undetected. On seeing the SLN vessel, he had been ordered to jump into sea by the occupants of the Indian trawler.