20 detained fishermen return to Lanka

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Indian Coast Guard handed over 20 Sri Lankan fishermen along with their four boats to the Sri Lankan Government last Friday afternoon, a spokesman for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard said. With the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy the SL Coast Guards (SLCG) received the group at the International Maritime Boundary line in the seas off the Northern coast.

Sri Lanka Coast Guard, equipped with six Fast Patrol Craft and two Inshore Patrol Craft, is fully established in selected spots on the Northern Coast and now patrol the Sri Lankan waters with the assistance of the Navy. The marshalling points will be established at all fishing harbours in the island by the SLCG and as the initial step will be focused on fishing harbours and the jetties on the Western and Southern coasts.

Accordingly the coast gaurd will register all the boats and fishermen using a particular harbour and monitor the return from the sea. They will also check whether the fishermen carry life saving equipment and running spares on board.

"If the fishermen aren't carrying the necessary equipment we will have to strictly advise them to organise their equipment as it is highly important for their safety," the spokesman said.