The Sri Lanka Navy conducted special operations to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters in the evening of 28th October 2023 and this morning (29th October 2023). The separate operations led to the seizure of 05 Indian trawlers with 37 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Mannar as well as near the Delft Island, Jaffna.
The Navy remains committed to conducting routine patrols and operations within Sri Lankan waters to deter the unlawful fishing activities of foreign trawlers. This effort is driven by an understanding of the impact of such practices on the livelihoods of local fishermen and the marine resources of the country.
In similar operations, the North Central Naval Command and Northern Naval Command deployed its Fast Attack Craft, Inshore Patrol Craft and small craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on 28th October 2023 and this morning (29th October 2023).
In these operations, the North Central Naval Command held 03 Indian poaching trawlers that continued to remain in island waters off Mannar, with 23 Indian fishers aboard. In the same vein the Northern Naval Command apprehended 02 Indian poaching trawlers with 14 Indian fishermen who were poaching near the Delft Island.
The apprehended Indian fishermen (37) and the poaching trawlers (05) were brought to the Talaimannar Pier and Kankesanthurai harbour and they will be handed over to the Talaimannar and Jaffna Fisheries Inspectors for onward legal action.
Including the poaching trawlers held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 27 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 174 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023. Following these apprehensions, the poaching trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to relevant authorities for legal action.
The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to reassign drivers and conductors who were previously engaged in various other duties.
This decision comes into effect today as announced by Deputy Minister of Transport, Prasanna Kumara Gunasena.
Deputy Minister Gunasena revealed that political interference had led to the assignment of drivers and conductors to various non-related duties.
An investigation uncovered that 333 drivers were affected by these political appointments.
To ensure the fitness and readiness of these drivers for their original roles, they will undergo medical examinations at the National Transport Medical Institute.
Based on the results of these examinations, the drivers will be reassigned to their driving duties.
Professor Gananath Obeyesekere, a distinguished academic and former Head of Anthropology at Princeton University, has passed away at the age of 95.
He earned his BA in English from the University of Peradeniya in 1955, followed by an MA in 1958 and a PhD in 1964 from the University of Washington.
Prior to his tenure at Princeton University from 1980 to 2000, Prof. Obeyesekere held prestigious academic positions in Sri Lanka, the University of Washington, and the University of California, San Diego.
Among his popular books are Land Tenure in Village Ceylon, Medusa’s Hair, The Cult of the Goddess Pattini, Buddhism Transformed (coauthor), The Work of Culture, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook: European Mythmaking in the Pacific, and Making Karma.
National People’s Power (NPP) MPs have signed a letter to remove suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon from office.
A total of 115 MPs endorsed the letter, which was submitted to the Speaker this afternoon (March 25).
Tennakoon is currently in remand custody in connection with a 2023 shooting incident that took place outside the W15 hotel in Weligama, which resulted in the death of an officer from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).