Sri Lanka Navy assisted in the repatriation of 35 Indian fishermen on 03rd January 2012. The fishermen and 02 Indian fishing boats were handed over to the Indian Coast Guard Ship Gangadevi in the seas north-west of Delft. Sri Lanka Naval Ship Ranadheera, Fast Attack Craft P 465 and Coast Guard Vessel CG 40 assisted the mission.
The Navy launched extensive search and rescue operations in the northern and eastern seas to rescue Indian fishermen whose boats had washed ashore and run aground near Sri Lankan coasts.
They were rescued and provided with food and shelter prior to handing them over to the law enforcement authorities for onward action. Speedy action to dispatch the rescued Indian fishermen and their boats was undertaken on humanitarian grounds with a view to assist the livelihoods of the Indian fishermen and the wellbeing of their family members.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , January 04, 2012; Image: navy