Three Sri Lankan multi-day fishing boats attacked by India!
The Indian Navy has attacked three Sri Lankan multi-day fishing boats operating in international waters, and two of the attacked multi-day fishing boats arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday, February 01st. The fishermen told the media that Indian Navy officers severely attacked them.
The moment the fishermen came ashore was very heated, and the other fishermen and their relatives launched a protest at the Vellamankaraya fishing port against the attack. The relatives of the fishermen who were attacked expressed their displeasure to the Indian Navy and strongly accused.
The two vessels carrying the attacked fishermen reached the Wennappuwa Wellamankara fishing port at noon yesterday.
At the time of the attack by the Indian Navy, 12 fishermen from these two multi-purpose fishing vessels, Dinithi Duwa I & II, were working, and they told the media that they were all brutally attacked.
According to the fishermen who arrived in the country, the multi-day vessel Sandunputha, which was attacked by the Indian Navy, is currently coming ashore and has informed the country through radio messages that there are three fishermen in critical condition on board.
The relatives have requested the Sri Lankan government to request a formal investigation from India into the unjust attack by the Indian Navy.
The Sri Lanka Navy had admitted four fishermen from these vessels in critical condition to the Galle General Hospital in the early hours of the 31st of January.
Steps were also taken to hospitalize three fishermen from the two vessels that arrived on 01st February.
According to the relatives of the fishermen, the Dinithi Duwa I and II were attacked in Sri Lankan waters while they were returning to Sri Lanka, on the 29th, after working in international waters for more than a month.
The fishing vessel Sandunputha was attacked on the afternoon of January 30 in international waters near Diogesiya Island.
Commenting on the unfortunate incident, the President of the All Ceylon Multi-Day Fishing Vessel Owners Association, Tyrone Mendis, said that due to this situation, more than 2000 Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessels operating in international waters are not working and are issuing warning signals.
The Indian sailors searched the boats of the Sri Lankan fishermen while attacking them and questioned them about the presence of drugs.
Although the four injured fishermen from Dinithi Duwa I & II were admitted to the hospital, the fishermen from the Sandun Putha fishing vessel could not be treated because it would take another 5 days for the vessel to reach Sri Lanka.
The Director General of the Fisheries Department, Susantha Kahawatte, said that an investigation has been initiated into the incident based on the information provided by the All-Ceylon Multi-Day Boat Owners Association and the fishermen concerned.
Furthermore, the critically ill patients from the fishing vessel that is approaching the island have been brought ashore by a Sri Lanka Navy vessel and admitted to the Galle General Hospital, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be informed about the incident, and necessary steps will be taken, the Director General said.
Pix: Mojo News
