Mannar Police seize fuel to be supplied to fishermen

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 05:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police Monday arrested two employees of Talaimannar Village Fisheries Co-operative Society with 2100 liters of fuel, which was taken in a society lorry to be supplied to member-fishermen. The police arrested these employees on a report that they had not obtained permission from the relevant authorities to transport fuel.

The Talaimannar Police produced both employees in Mannar Magistrate's Court Tuesday afternoon. Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah, Magistrate released the employees on personal bail in a sum of fifty thousand rupees each and the vehicle in a sum of five hundred thousand rupees. The Magistrate further ordered the employees to appear in court on 3rd September, legal sources said.

The Magistrate also directed the authorities to keep the fuel in the custody of the court, legal sources said.

Talaimannar Village Fisheries Co-operative Society supplies fuel to about eighty-five fishing boats in the area on daily basis. About 250 fisher families live in Talaimannar village.

With the confiscation of 2100 liters of fuel, the society is now undergoing difficulty in supplying fuel to member fishermen to do their fishing in Mannar Sea, sources said.