Awareness programmes on perils of illegal voyages

Ridma Dissanayake

The Sri Lanka Coastguard has taken measures to conduct a series of awareness programmes on the dangerous aspects of human smuggling, Sri Lanka Coastguard media spokesman Lt Commander Chandana Bulegoda Arachchi said.

He said the first awareness programme on the dangerous aspects of human smuggling was held for fishing vessel owners, fishermen and fisheries communities in Dondra and Nilwella recently. The spokesman said the first awareness programme on this issue was held by Coastguard personnel of the Mirissa Coastguard Base. The case study of the recent hijacking of a multi - day fishing trawler by an armed human smuggling gang off Kudawella had been taken as an example of the unforeseen dangers such voyages entail, he said.

Coastguard personnel, at the awareness workshop, explained the emerging threat, measures to counteract such threats and action to be taken in such an eventuality, Lt Commander Bulegoda Arachchi said. The Coastguard utilised this awareness programme to educate the public of the vulnerability of sea passage to Australia and strict measures taken by the Australian authorities in this regard and also to counter the erroneous propaganda of human smugglers. The Coastguard will continue the programme in all fisheries harbours, both in the South and North, aiming to educate the public on the perils associated illegal voyages, Lt Commander Bulegoda Arachchi said.