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Fisheries ministry negotiating release of stranded fishermen
View(s):One-hundred-and-eighty Sri lankan fishermen and the 36 boats which drifted into Myanmar waters in bad weather still remain there, a Fisheries Ministry spokesperson said.
He said three boats and fifteen fishermen were in the custody of the Myanmar coast guard. Fisheries ministry secretary Dr. R.M. Dissanayaka said government was in contact with the authorities in Myanmar via diplomatic channels and said he expected the fishermen to be released soon.
Meanwhile Maritime Rescue Co-ordinating Centre (MRCC) based in Colombo said it had alerted the Maritime co-ordinating centres in Myanmar and Bagnaladesh about the stranded Lankan fishermen. The Metrological Department has issued repeated warnings to fishermen to refrain from sailing due to adverse weather conditions
Last year, 53 Sri Lankan fishermen died when their boats were caught up in a heavy storm.