4000 Indian fishermen go to sea after ban ends; SL Navy vessels on IMBL

About 4000 Indian fishermen on Saturday set out to sea at the end of a 48-day ban, imposed to enable fish breeding, even as Sri Lankan Navy deployed its vessels along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) to prevent them from crossing over into their waters.

Speaking to PTI, Assistant Director of Fisheries (Ramanthapuram district) Gobinath said officials have warned the fishermen against crossing the IMBL. Severe action would be taken against those who had left town without obtaining the required permission, he said.

Gopinath said the Lankan Navy has deployed some ships and more than 10 naval boats along IMBL to prevent the fishermen from crossing over into their territorial waters. The Indian Coast Guard had also deployed sufficient force in the area to advice fishermen not to cross the IMBL. So far all of them have been fishing in Indian waters, he said.

Meanwhile, Military spokesperson Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera speaking to Daily Mirror said that sufficient Navy personnel had been deployed along the IMBL and the number of personnel will be increased when the most number of Indian fishermen tend to cross the IMBL. “If they crossed into tour territorial waters, they would be arrested”, he said.(DS)