Navy assists in Lankan fishermen’s repatriation

Ridma Dissanayake

Sri Lanka Navy assisted in the repatriation of three Sri Lankan fishermen released from Indian custody on April 5. The fishermen and the fishing boat named, Mahalakshmi were received from the Indian Coast Guard Ship C-138 at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) off Thalaimannar by the Sri Lankan Naval Ship Edithara II attached to the Northern Naval Command and P 215 attached to the North Central Naval Command.

The speedy release of the Sri Lankan fishermen came as a direct result of the collaborative efforts by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry, Sri Lanka Navy and the Indian officials. According to Fisheries Ministry sources there are only five fishermen and a fishing vessel still in Indian custody and all measures will taken to release them in the near future.

Meanwhile, the Naval troops attached to SLNS Buwaneka of the North-Central Naval Command had recovered a cache of mortars, anti-personnel mines, hand grenades and ammunition in Vediththaltheevu South, recently.

They made this raid according to information received and the recovered items consisted of five 60mm mortars, five anti-personnel mines, two hand grenades and 1,600 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition.