Plight of 14 fishermen unknown

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The plight of 14 fishermen of the 28 who went missing on November 25 due to the gale force winds in the Galle and Matara districts is not known yet although 15 bodies were washed ashore, Fisheries Department and Disaster Management Centre sources told the Sunday Observer.

The Chief Radio Officer of the Fisheries Department, Asoka Jayaweera said that 14 fishing boats of which eight fibreglass reinforced plastic boats fitted with outboard motors and six medium size boats with inboard motors went missing in Mirissa and Weligama.

He said the boats which capsized in the sea were not strong enough to face the 60 KMPH winds.

The Meteorological Department also did not forecast such wind speeds on November 24, evening, he said.

Although the Fisheries Department had made it compulsory for fishermen to wear life saving jackets when fishing they had not adhered to and many of them had to face this unfortunate situation.

The Department has also made it compulsory for fishermen to have life wings and life buoys in boats to face any emergency.

"If fishermen had worn life jackets many of them could have floated in the sea until someone rescued them", he said.

Fishermen do not wear life jackets as they feel uncomfortable when fishing in small boats.

The Sri Lanka Navy which launched five vessels for rescue operations found no clue of the missing fishermen during the past few days.

Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said though they rescued some marooned fishermen close to the land they could not find any fishermen in the sea.

According to the Disaster Management Centre 29 deaths were reported and 14 fishermen went missing Over 63,740 people in 16,561 families were affected by the increment weather.

DMC Spokesman Pradeep Kodippili said 159 people in 41 families who had been affected due to the bad weather are still in displaced centres.

Meteorological Department Director General G.B. Samarasinghe said that the country is experiencing the tale end of the inter monsoon period and the North East monsoon cyclonic weather will set in this month. He said the North, East and the Uva provinces would experience heavy showers during the North East monsoon.