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| Sunday, 6 June 2004 |
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Security |  |
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Navy dissatisfied over Indian NGO's action of poachers by Anton Nonis The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has expressed dissatisfaction over an Indian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that visited the country last week for discussions with representatives of the fishing community in the North-East regarding the Indian poachers taken into custody by the SLN. Commodore Jayantha Perera told the Sunday Observer that they had brought this to the attention of the Defence Ministry to highlight the irregularity of the Indian NGO's conduct and to take steps to prevent such acts in future. Fisheries Department Director General, G. Piyasena said the issue should have been discussed between the two governments and not by an NGO. The number of poachers in the Northern and Eastern seas has been on the increase. Piyasena said his department is being informed on and off about the poaching going on in the two regions. The matter has been brought to the notice of the Sri Lanka Navy for stringent measures to be taken to prevent these illegal activities. Large quantities of fish are reported to be captured by the poachers in this manner every month. According to Commodore Jayantha Perera, about 200 poachers are rounded up and are handed over to the local police for Court action while some escape. It is being felt that the rapid increase in poaching in the North-East is mainly due to the non-availability of satellite navigating equipment in the regions. In the North-East, the Navy gets information from fishermen once they return to the land. Due to this communication delay, the majority of the poachers manage to escape. |
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