Indian fishermen rescued by Sri Lankan Navy
COLOMBO: Amid repeated charges by Tamil Nadu fishermen against the Sri Lankan Navy of attacking them, the Sri Lankan Navy said it had assisted a fishing boat from the State in distress.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Sri Lankan Navy said, “it assisted an Indian fishing boat in distress in the Sri Lankan waters on December 27”— the same day some Indian fishermen claimed the Sri Lankan Navy attacked them off Dhanushkodi.
About 20 fishermen said they were injured in the attack on them on the international maritime boundary.
Tamil Nadu fisheries officials, however, said the fishermen were fishing inside the Sri Lankan waters.
The Sri Lankan Navy said, “A boat with four Indian fishermen onboard began drifting due to engine failure and the naval personnel of the Northern Naval Command, with the help of local fishermen, rescued the boat in the seas west of Madagal and brought it ashore for further assistance.”
The Indian crew were provided technical assistance, food and accommodation and the repatriation process was being expedited.
Repatriation of fishermen stuck on either side had long been an issue that evaded a solution.
A foreigner in Indian or Sri Lankan soil gets the same treatment, regardless of whether he/she is a fishermen or a peddler – he/she is sent to jail. Then there follows a lengthy court process at the end of which the person is extradited.
The Sri Lankan Navy said that on many occasions it had come to the rescue of Indian fishermen in distress on humanitarian grounds and provided them assistance using its vessels and personnel despite the heavy expenses involved.
“On November 2, Sri Lankan naval ship “Ranawickrema” rendered assistance to 11 Indian fishermen in distress and our personnel assisted in repairing their damaged fishing trawlers after having them towed to anchorage off the Delft Island,” the Sri Lankan Navy said.
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