The Navy has arrested 13 fishermen who engaged in illegal fishing practices in the sea area off Kokkuthuduwai, the Navy said in a statement today.
Along with the suspects, 4 dinghies and an unauthorized net were also taken into custody by the Navy. Having brought the fishermen and items to the naval base SLNS Walagamba in Kuchchaveli, they were handed over to the Kuchchaveli Police for further investigations.
On the same day, another 10 fishermen who engaged in fishing activities by means of unauthorized nets in Serakkuliya lagoon area, were apprehended by naval personnel attached to SLNS Vijaya located in Kalpitiya in the North Western Naval Command. During the arrest, 5 dinghies, 6 unauthorized nets used for fishing were taken into naval custody. The arrested persons and the belongings were produced to the Puttalam Fisheries Inspector for onward investigations.
