Categories: Uncategorized

Sri Lanka to release 173 boats

The Sri Lankan government has ordered the release of all the 173 trawlers confiscated by its navy since 2015 after arresting fishermen on the charge of illegal fishing in their waters.

The government order dated September 7 was received by the Fisheries Department here last week and it is set to send a salvage team comprising fishermen, mechanics and officials to the island nation to assess the condition of the trawlers.

“We have received the order and the salvage team will leave for Sri Lanka after getting clearances from the Tamil Nadu government,” Mr Johny Tom Varghese, Additional Director of Fisheries (Ramanathapuram) told The Hindu here on Monday.

He would head the team comprising fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai and two mechanics. The operation is expected to commence before the onset of north monsoon.

The island nation’s order clearly states that trawling equipment in boats would not be released.

The boats, each valued at ₹10 to ₹50 lakh, were berthed in Karai Nagar, Kankesanthurai, Trincomalee, Kalpatti and Mannar, sources said, adding most of the boats after years of neglect got submerged in water. “We will be happy if we could salvage 40 to 50% of the trawlers,” they said.

P Sesu Raja, fishermen leader, welcomed the Sri Lankan government order.

Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – World’s first wooden satellite, developed in Japan, heads to space

The world’s first wooden satellite, built by Japanese researchers, was launched into space on Tuesday,…

15 hours ago

LNP – Immigration proposes to link up with hotels to track down tourist information

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has proposed to link up with the tourist hotels…

23 hours ago

LNP – Government will take legal action if rice not sold at controlled prices: President

Claiming that the government had held discussions with rice millers on the prices of rice,…

23 hours ago

LNP – Sri Lanka scraps CEB privatization plan

The Board of Directors of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has officially shelved its privatization…

23 hours ago

LNP – Online token system for collecting passports effective from Wednesday

A new online method has been introduced for the collection of passports, according to the…

23 hours ago

LNP – Over 1,500 complaints ahead of 2024 General Election

The number of complaints received by the Election Commission regarding the 2024 Parliamentary Poll has…

23 hours ago