News
Interception of SL fishing craft by Seychelles: Trawler owners demand international investigation
All Ceylon Multi-day Trawler Owners’ Association has urged relevant international organisations and the government to probe the recent destruction of a multi-day fishing trawler and the arrest of six fishermen by the Seychelles security authorities.
Secretary of the Association, Ruwan Fernando, said the trawler that left Wellamankara harbour, in Wennappuwa, with six men on board, had been seized by the Seychelles security forces on December 30. The fishermen had been arrested and the trawler set ablaze. Fernando said that Sri Lankan government and the international organisations should intervene to ensure a comprehensive inquiry.
Fernando claimed that Seychelles authorities hadn’t officially informed the Sri Lankan government of the incident. Environmental pollution caused by the flow of 10,000 litres of diesel, engine oil and other waste matter from the trawler, including fiber, may have caused extensive marine pollution, he said.
The owner of the trawler, Susil Fernando of Marawila, said the trawler, which had been in close proximity to the Mauritius islands by December 24, had lost its course and entered the Seychelles sea limits. Susil Fernando said that though his trawlers had been apprehended by Indian and Maldivian authorities previously and legal action taken against the fishermen, they never destroyed trawlers in this manner. So does the Sri Lankan government in case of Indian trawlers seized in Sri Lankan waters, he said.
It has been reported that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya this morning (17)
it is suspected that he may have taken his own life.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne found dead at his residence
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