The Ministry of Fisheries, Foreign Affairs and Buddhist and Catholic clergy are making a joint effort to recover five boats belonging to Sri Lankan fishermen which have been confiscated by the Indian Authorities.

These boats named Matara Amma, Ann Mary, Salkhan, Marine 1 and Marine 2 have been confiscated by the authorities in Orissa. These have been confiscated though the fishermen have been released as a result of discussions which the Ministry of Fisheries had with the Indian Authorities.

Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC Consultant and Member of the Advisory board Fisheries Ministry S. P. Anthoneymuttu told the Daily Mirror that Ven Sidhartha Thera of Mahabodhi and Fr. Austin Singh has also paid a role in getting the fishermen released and to get the confiscated boats released. Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC is also involved in the negotiations. (Yohan Perera)