In spite of Sri Lanka’s repeated protests, Indian fishermen are crossing the Indo-Lanka maritime boundary in large numbers, security sources say.
Against the backdrop of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran’s declaration that Sri Lanka wouldn’t formalise Indian poaching, under any circumstances, a group of Indian fishers were found in a distressed state off the Western coast.
According to Navy Headquarters, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Colombo received an alert from its counterpart, MRCC Mumbai, regarding the missing Indian vessel.
Fast Attack Craft (FACs), attached to the Western Naval Command, found the vessel, off Chilaw, on Sunday (06) and the rescued poachers were brought to the Dikowita fisheries harbour.
The Indian boat lost contact with land on 29 June, Navy Headquarters said, adding that the fishermen were residents of Minicoy Island, India.
The fishermen had been handed over to the Wattala Police Station for further procedures, Navy said. This was the second rescue of Indian poachers during the past two weeks.
Minister Ramalingam has warned that the poachers would be apprehended and their boats confiscated.
Retired Navy officers say that since the conclusion of the Eelam war, in 2009, Indian fishing fleet intensified poaching, thereby causing massive depletion of local fish resources, especially with them resorting to banned bottom trawling.
By Shamindra Ferdinando