Sri Lanka Navy has taken steps to repatriate 33 Indian fishermen in the Sri Lanka custody with the immediate effect on 5th June 2014.
As a humanitarian gesture SLN has assisted the repatriation of Indian fishermen released from Sri Lankan custody after their arrest for poaching on the Sri Lankan waters.
SLN vessels were deployed to escort them to the IMBL as well as to rescue the Indian fishermen in distress and assist the salvage of Indian fishing boats stranded due to mechanical defect.
They were handed over to the Indian Coast Guard Ship “Rajkamal” at the seas off Mannar. Naval Patrol Craft attached to North Central Naval Command were deployed for the humanitarian mission.
[mappress] Press Release, June 06, 2014; Image: Sri Lanka Navy