SLA shoots, injures fisherman in Jaffna seas

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 June 2009, 19:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers posted along the coast of Kalmunai in Poonakari opened fire Monday around 6:30 a.m on a fisherman from Kurunakar in Jaffna who was fishing in Kalmunai sea area, sources in Jaffna said. The seriously injured fisherman was admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital around 9:30 a.m by fellow fisherman and is in a critical situation, hospital sources said.

The wounded fisherman was identified as N. Jilion, 23, married man from Fifth Flats in Kurunakar.

Jilion had obtained the necessary fishing ‘pass’ from the SLA authorities before going fishing Monday early morning.

This shoot out by SLA has taken place within 24 hours after the government announced that all restrictions on fishing in the eastern seas have been lifted.

Many Jaffna fishermen have lost their lives shot by SLA soldiers while engaged in fishing in Jaffna lagoon, in earlier instances.