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Fishing vessel was apprehended: SLCG confirms Sunday Times story
View(s):The Sri Lanka Coast Guard confirmed the Sunday Times news item that a multi-day fishing vessel was detained by them at the Beruwala Fisheries Harbour on allegations that they were carrying electrical and other items.
The Sunday Times on July 11 reported that a Lankan fishing vessel returning from Maldives was held at the harbour.
Director General of the SLCG, Rear Admiral Gewman Ekanayake, confirming the detention said in a letter the particular fishing vessel arrived at the Beruwala Fisheries Habour on completion of the legal proceedings in Maldives for illegally entering the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone.
“Accordingly, the fishing vessel was searched as part of routine arrival formalities, and the items and fishermen were handed over to Sri Lanka Customs. The fishermen with goods were later released by Customs as there were no commercial quantities of the processed goods,” he said.
He said, however, no verification had been sought from the SLCG regarding the detection.
The Sunday Times reported the detection based on SLCG information provided to the fisheries harbour officials.