As COVID-19 worsens in India Douglas requests Navy to tighten mid sea borders

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda has requested the Sri Lanka Navy to heighten its vigilance along the borders, in the mid seas to prevent Indian fishermen from coming into local waters at a time when a mutated version of the COVID-19 was rapidly spreading in several Indian states including Southern India.  

 Devananda told the Daily Mirror that he had requested the Navy to heighten their monitoring mechanism so that local fishermen could avoid coming into contact with Indian fishermen who could be carrying the virus.   
“I have requested the navy to maximize their vigilance along the borders to prevent any Indian fishermen from entering local waters. Especially at a time when there have been reports that infected fishermen are coming in contact with local fishermen mid seas and that is adding to the spread of the COVID19. With a new mutated strain In India I have requested the navy to tighten the borders and have also instructed our local fishermen to be vary of the situation,” Devananda said.  

The Minister further said that while the COVID-19 situation spread was rampant in India, he hoped the situation would normalize soon.