Sri Lankan fishing boat washed ashore near Dhanushkodi

The Marine Police of the Coastal Security Group in India have seized a Sri Lankan fibreglass fishing boat which was found washed ashore along the Othathalai coast near Dhanushkodi today (Monday), The Hindu newspaper reported.

On being alerted by local people, a Marine Police team, led by Inspector Rajarajan, seized the boat and brought it to Rameswaram Marine Police station. The boat measured 18 feet in length and six feet in width, the police said.

The registration number found on the boat indicated that it could belong to some fishermen of Talaimannar in the northern coast of Sri Lanka. A set of fishing net was found in the engineless boat.

The boat could have drifted to the Indian coast after its anchor got removed, the police said. The Marine Police have registered a case in this regard.

Meanwhile, R. Kennedy, Inspector, Q Branch police, said there was nothing suspicious in the seizure. “It appears to be a fishing boat and there is no substance to suspect sabotage or smuggling,” he said.

Officials in Talaimannar had complained about the boat missing since Monday last, he said. Only a portion of the boat was visible when it was drifted towards the Indian coast, he said.

As Rameswaram fishermen were on a strike last week, it did not come to the notice of anyone till it reached the shore, he said.

SLFP to sack members who promote other political parties

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will sack members who promote other political parties.

SLFP member and United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said that those who promote other political parties will lose their party membership.

He told the Colombo Gazette that earlier the SLFP was lenient with SLFP rebels as it wanted to unite the party.

However he says now the time has come for the SLFP to get tough with elections around the corner.

Amaraweera said that while the UPFA cannot act on its alliance members who support other political parties, the SLFP will take action on SLFP members.

The move comes as SLFP members in the joint opposition are opening supporting the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ahead of the Local Government elections scheduled to be held next year.