(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –During the past few days, eight persons who engaged in illegal acts at several locations in the island were apprehended by Sri Lanka Navy. The suspects were held for engaging in illegal acts and possession of banned fishing gears.
Six persons who engaged in illegal fishing along the Eastern coastal line were apprehended by Naval personnel onboard a Coastal Patrol Craft attached to Eastern Naval Command, on 13 June. A dinghy, 2 banned nets and 134kg of illegally caught fish were also nabbed. The suspects along with the dinghy, fish stock and fishing gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries in Trincomalee for onward legal action.
Meanwhile, 10 Gelignite sticks, 04 non electrical detonators and 04 safety fuses hidden underneath a bush in Southbar area were recovered by naval personnel attached to North Central Naval Command, on 14th June. The recovered explosives were handed over to STF Mannar for legal action.
On the same day, naval personnel attached to the Northwestern Naval Command on foot patrol along Sinnapadu beach, apprehended 2 persons who possessed banned fishing gears. A banned fishing net and a tradition craft (Thempam) apprehend by the Navy were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries in Puttalam for legal action.
Further, on 15th June, nine banned nets were recovered by Naval troops during routine patrol in Baticoloa lagoon area and they were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Batticoloa for onward legal action.
