Search continues for missing fisherman

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 January 2003, 18:16 GMT]
The fisherman who went missing in the northern sea off Thondamanaru coast when a Sri Lanka Navy craft rammed his fishing boat on Monday night has not been traced till Thursday evening. Eight fishing boats were used to search from early morning till the evening Thursday, but the search was called off without success and will continue Friday, civilian sources said.

The two fishermen of Kerudavil who were injured in this incident and are now warded in the Palaly army hospital would be transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Friday with the permission of the Jaffna magistrate court, according to a message received from the Sri Lanka Army by the victims' relatives. The SLN personnel stationed at Kankesanthurai (KKS) harbour, sources said, handed over the damaged boat to the KKS Police.

On representation made by the Jaffna regional co-ordinator of the Human Rights of Commission of Sri Lanka to the Sri Lanka Navy following a complaint by the affected parties, the SLN permitted eight boats to search for the missing fisherman, sources said.

Meanwhile, two fishermen reported to be missing in northern waters off the Polikandy coast in the Vadamarachchi area returned to the shore near Mathagal in the Valigamam area Thursday. Fellow fishermen rescued them while their boat was adrift in mid-sea due to engine trouble, fisheries sources said. Earlier report said their boat also was rammed by an SLN craft Monday night.