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Abandoned divers in desperate fight

By Christopher Kamalendran
An adventurous diving exploration in the Negombo sea on Boxing day nearly turned fatal for five foreigners after they were abandoned by the boatman in the rough and bitter cold seas for nearly 24 hours.
Three tourists along with two instructors of the Aquatic Adventures Diving Club in Negombo decided to go for a drift dive around 1.00 p.m.

The owner of the Aquatic Adventures Diving Club, Rativ Asghar who was also a part of the group told The Sunday Times that he had to get a new boatman as his usual boatman was on leave.

" We asked the boatman to drop us off at a specific location about 20 Km away from the shore. We explained to him the route we would be taking and wanted him to do the same so that once we finish the dive, he would be at the same point to pick us up. But when we came out of the water we could not locate the boatman," said Rativ.
By this time the sea was getting rough, the tide was high and the five divers were drifting further into the sea.

"We could still see the boatman and tried all attempts to get his attention. After a while we knew he had no radio equipment or any other signal to receive our message. The tide was also very high and we were caught in a current," said Rativ.

By this time the boatman who was frantically looking for his five passengers left for the shore under the impression that they had drowned. He had immediately lodged a complaint at the Negambo police regarding five missing people.

The police launched an immediate search operation with the help of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Navy was put into force. The relevant Embassies were informed and the search for the five foreigners began around 6.00 pm.

By this time word had got around and the foreign press had got wind of the story and was behind the case, as there were three Dutch tourists, including an instructor, one German and one Briton in the group.

While the search was on, the five divers were fighting for survival amidst the cold water. The Air Force deployed an Y-12 aircraft and helicopters while the Navy sent patrolling teams.

Luck was definitely not on the side of the divers who flashed their torch lights at the chopper and the aircraft in desperation.

But they flew right above them missing the desperate divers’ signals for help. Even the patrolling Navy ship returned the divers' desperate flash light signals thinking that they were routine flashes from passing fishing boats.

"As we saw our chances of rescue passing us, we decided to form a chain by tying our waist belts together as the sea was getting rough and we were finding it difficult to stay together. We stayed this way throughout the night," Rativ said.

By Friday morning the divers had drifted towards Wattala. Exhausted after being in the water for 24 hours they were floating in the water hoping against hope that they would be rescued.

"It was then that we saw an international cargo ship. We knew this was our last chance. But it was quite far away and we decided to swim towards it so that it would be easy for them to spot us," said Rativ.

After a while the cargo ship did spot them. But it was unable to come closer to the divers.

The ship sent signals to the nearby fishing boats who came to the rescue of the divers. They were brought to shore and were reunited with their families who were waiting for them anxiously in Negombo.

New Year: A day of terror for poor doggies
New Years eve may be a thrilling day for people but it is a terrifying day for dogs.

The 'SATHVA MITHRA' organization has called on dog owners, to keep their pets safe and secure particularly on December 31 and January 1, when there will be the usual burst of firecrackers and skyrockets that frighten the dogs and make them run away.

"In their confusion, these dogs are unable to find their way back home and often are stolen by individuals and organized gangs for various nefarious purposes. Many are also run over and killed by vehicles," the organization said.

"We suggest that wherever possible dogs are kept inside the house on 31st night, particularly if the owners are going out, because dogs undergo severe trauma when exposed to the noise and sight of firecrackers and sky rockets, and other festive fireworks. If left in a verandah or garden, owners must ensure the dogs cannot get out of their premises through live or barbed wire fences, drains etc," the organization said.

They said that many owners in the past have been seen looking for lost pets after the 31st night for not having taken these basic precautions.

Ratnasiri quizzed, AG to decide
By Tania Fernando
The CID who questioned former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake for more than two hours on the alleged frauds in the Rubber Manufacturing Corporation is to seek advice from the Attorney General regarding further action.

CID sources said Mr. Wickremanayake who was reportedly missing had telephoned them and come for an interview last Thursday on matters pertaining to the alleged fraud running into hundreds of millions if of rupees.

The former chairman, accountant and factory manager of the Corporation were earlier arrested in this connection and later released on bail. Mr. Wickremanayake was also the Minister of Plantation Industries during the time the alleged fraud took place. It is alleged that about Rs. 540 million of Rs. 941 million allocated to provide relief for small holders had not been properly accounted for.

IGP vows to clear name of MSD
Police Chief T.E. Anandaraja has vowed to clear the name of the Ministerial Security Division following the latest allegations against it.

During the PA regime the MSD had often been accused of abuse of power and the row surfaced again with accusations that PSD personnel had attacked the son of the Airport and Aviation Sevices Chairman. The Police Chief said a full probe was underway and anyone responsible would be dealt with.Initial reports claimed that Pavithra Fernando son of Airpoirts Services Chief Hemasiri Fernando had been attacked by the sons of ministers S.B. Dissanayake and Mahinda Wijesekera during another five star brawl.

But it was later alleged that MSD personnel escorting the sons of the ministers had attacked the official's son.

Five-man gang caught with top gun
A five-man gang which is believed to be connected with the underworld has been arrested by the Peliyagoda Police while they were transporting a weapon to be used against a rival group.

The gang confessed that they bought the .38 calibre weapon from Ekala, Peliyagoda Crimes Division detectives said adding that the weapon detected was normally issued to selected service personnel from the Army and to the police.

The detectives said they had informed the Army headquarters and the Police headquarters of the detection and were awaiting a response to track down the officer concerned. They said the weapon had been purchased to attack a rival gang in Kuliyapitiya.

The suspects were produced before Negombo magistrate M. N. Buran who remanded them till January 10.


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