Torrential rains lash the country:

Four fishermen drowned, nine rescued

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Four fishermen were drowned and nine others who went missing due to rough seas were rescued yesterday following the torrential rains countrywide.

At least nine fishermen who went missing in rough seas off the Balapitiya, Beruwala and Dehiwala shores were rescued while four bodies were also recovered in a joint rescue operation launched by the Air Force and Navy throughout yesterday. Four bodies believed to be those fishing in Ahungalla, Galle, Bentota and Beruwala on Friday night were recovered yesterday morning, the Police Spokesman said.

The victims had not been identified at the time this edition went to press.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) deployed three Bell 412 helicopters to look for the missing boats along with two Y12 aircraft that patrolled the seas offshore.

Air Force Spokesman Air Commodore Andrew Wijesuriya said two fishermen were rescued from the seas off Kollupitiya and one from Beruwala. They were later airlifted to the Galle Face Green.

The SLAF also rescued a boat carrying six other fishermen.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sent three ships and four Fast Attack Craft (FAC) in search of the missing boats in the seas off Colombo and Galle.

Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said the Navy ships Sayura and Nandimithra left the Colombo Harbour while Jaya Sagara left from Galle.

These ships were sent due to the rough seas. The Navy rescued two fishermen and another had been saved by a merchant ship, Commander Warnakulasuriya said.

The Meteorological Department issued a bad weather warning for fishermen to refrain from going to sea for the next 24 hours.

A duty forecaster at the Meteorological department said that the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva will experience heavy showers due to the South-Western Monsoon at present.

The Puttalam and Kurunegala districts will also experience mild showers.

Strong winds at speeds of 30 - 50 kilometres per hour are expected in the coastal belt from Puttalam to Hambantota and Jaffna to Trincomalee.

A spokesman for the Disaster Management Unit said the Kelani Ganga, Kalu Ganga and Gin Ganga were at spill level and cautioned people in these areas to be extra vigilant.

The spill gates of the Laxapana, Canyon, Upper Kotmale and Kukule Ganga reservoirs were opened yesterday afternoon.

Train services were interrupted following an incident in Dehiwela where several hundred fisherfolks blocked the southern railway line by dragging boats on to the track.

They called upon the authorities to launch rescue missions to look for the missing fishermen.