Navy to receive straying fishermen, boats

Ten Sri Lankan Fishermen and 10 boats taken into custody by the Indian Coast Guard for straying into Indian territorial waters will be handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy on October 13 around 1 p.m. near the Kankesanturai maritime zone, said the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry in a press release.

This follows the intervention of Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne on their behalf.

The ten boats are Ceylon - 3, Dinesh - 3, Dinesh 9, Miyurangee Duwa, Ave Maria, Jesu Surindu 7, Star City, Laksiri, Lakshan 4 and Yasiru.

Another 46 fishe- rmen and 13 boats are in Indian custody.

Five of them held in Orissa have been released and action will be taken to bring them down to Sri Lanka the moment extradition orders are made by Indian authorities.