• Indian poachers destroyed nets belonging  to SL fishermen and take away the fish caught in the nets  by force  

By Romesh Madusanka   

Fisher folk in Vettilakeni area in Vadamarachchi expressed concern about the damage caused to their boats and fishing gear by Indian fishermen.  

They pointed out that the Indian poachers who enter the Sri Lankan waters destroyed nets belonging to the Sri Lankan fishermen and take away the fish caught in the nets by force.   

They said fishing nets valued more than Rs. 1 million had been destroyed during the last week and they were facing the threat of losing their livelihood. The aggrieved fisherman said that they had been left without means to settle the bank loans taken by them to purchase fishing gear and requested the Government to look into their predicament and resolve the issue.