Indian fishermen in Lankan waters rescued

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, Mar 27 (UNI) For the first time a Coast Guard ship crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan territorial waters to save four stranded fishermen.

A senior ICG official at Mandapam Station said Kingsley, Nambu, Christ Raj and Velladurai on board a fishing trawler, which ventured into the sea yesterday, were rescued this afternoon.

While fishing, they crossed the IMBL and entered Sri Lankan territorial waters today.

The hull of the boat was reported damaged and subsequently the engine developed a technical snag, making the boat unable to sail.

A Sri Lankan Naval vessel, on a routine patrol, found the fishermen in distress and informed the ICG.

ICG ship 'Vivek' crossed the IMBL to rescue them from a point 12 nautical miles from Talaimannar (six nautical miles well inside Sri Lankan waters). The ship towed the boat and returned to Mandapam Coast.

They were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries Department of Tamil Nadu.

ICG Mandapam Station, Commanding Officer K Janardhanan, thanked the Sri Lankan Navy for their life-saving gesture.

UNI GSM JJ GM PDT RS1936