SLN arrests 10 fishermen in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 16:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested Wednesday ten fishermen for having strayed beyond the 3 km distance limit enforced by the security forces in the seas of Vadamaradchi North and Munnai areas, confiscating their five catamarans, sources in Point Pedro said. The arrested fishermen were warned by the Point Pedro magistrate and allowed on 2,000 rupees cash bail each Thursday when they were produced at Point Pedro Court. The magistrate also directed SLN to return the confiscated catamarans to the fishermen.

SLN permits only daytime fishing in Vadamaraadchi north and east coasts, that too on manually sailed catamarans sans outboard motors, within a limited distance of 3 km into the seas, severely impacting the prospects of catch.

20 fishermen from the same area were arrested last week by SLN for having sailed more than 3 km into the sea but were released after being warned.

Their fishing permits, however, were cancelled.