Fishing prohibited to prevent infiltration

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 January 1999, 14:34 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has prohibited fisherman in Southern Thenmaradchi in Jaffna from fishing in the Jaffna lagoon since Monday. This order follows the clash between the LTTE and the SLA in Koilakkandy on Monday in which five Tigers were killed.

The ban has affected a large number of fishing families in the villages of Thachchanthoppu, Navatkuly, Koilakkandy, Thanagkilappu, Maravan Pulavu etc., sources said.

SLA sources in Jaffna, however, claimed that the ban was necessary as the Liberation Tigers are frequently infiltrating the peninsula from the mainland across the lagoon in canoes similar to those used by fishermen in these parts.

If there is a ban on local fishermen, then the SLA on the coast can easily identify Tiger infiltration through the lagoon said the army sources.

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