The Sri Lankan Navy as part of measures to monitor and prevent Tamil Nadu fishermen from straying into the island nation waters has stationed nine of its warships near Katchchatheevu on Thursday.
The island nation’s move comes as the 45-day ban on fishing had ended in the State on Wednesday. As the restriction period has drawn to a close, fishermen from different coastal districts here were gearing up to venture into the sea from this week. As per traditional practice, Rameswaram fishermen used to resume fishing only on Saturday. So, it is expected that boats from Rameswaram would be back in action from June 1. So, the Sri Lankan navy in an effort to ensure that fishermen from Tamil Nadu did not enter its waters has stationed 4 big ships and 5 small vessels around Katchchatheevu from Thursday.
Further, the island nation has floated buoys clearly indicating its maritime boundaries, so that fishermen could avoid entering the Lankan waters. Meanwhile, some Rameswaram fishermen, who were chased away by the Lankan Navy forces while at sea near the Katchchatheevu region, said “a group of 30 fishermen from different hamlets in Thangatchimadam, Pamban and Sangumal ventured into the sea in country crafts on May 27. While they were fishing near Katchchatheevu on Thursday, they spotted the ships of Sri Lankan Navy stationed near the islet.”
“Besides, some personnel of the island nation’s navy who came on two patrol boats warned us not to come to the region in future and asked us to leave the place. Though we were scheduled to return to the shore on Friday, we came back on Thursday itself after the warning issued by the Sri Lankan navy personnel.”
Meanwhile, the presence of the island nation’s navy has caused worry among the fishermen who were bracing up for a good catch after the 45-day ban.
Amid these developments, the Fisheries Department held a review meeting on security aspects at sea for the fishermen with fishermen and representatives of their association here.