5.2.2008
Sri Lanka navy sources say that two
of its coastal patrol craft were fired upon by a boat that
came along with a cluster of Indian Fishing vessels in the
Gulf of Mannar last evening (February 4). According to the
sources one of the boats among the poaching Indian fishing
vessels had pretended to be in distress and requested assistance
from the Navy boats. When approached the boats had opened
fire at the navy vessel, the sources added.
Navy
Media Spokesman, Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake told defence.lk
that, the LTTE terrorists any have hijacked the Indian fishing
vessel or were simply disguised as fishermen. Also, he said
that the over 200-300 Indian fishing trawlers enter into
Sri Lankan waters per week despite the presence of the powerful
Indian Navy and the Coastguards on the International Maritime
Boundary Line (IMBL) between the two countries.
Speaking
further, Commander Dassanayake also stated that the Sri
Lanka navy has been providing humanitarian assistance to
Indian fishermen in distress whenever needed. However, the
excessive poaching by the Indian fishing vessels has created
a situation that terrorists can exploit, he said. There
were ample instances where LTTE terrorists had hijacked
Indian fishing vessels, murdered, maimed and harassed Indian
fishermen due to this reason, he added.
Courtesy
- Sri Lanka Defence
|