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43 Indian fishermen refuse to go back without their boats
View(s):Half the number of 86 Indian fishermen whose release were ordered by President Maithripala Sirisena earlier this week have turned down the amnesty and are refusing to leave the country unless their boats are returned to them, a senior Navy official said yesterday.
He said 43 fishermen who were being detained in Jaffna along with six fishing trawlers refused to leave the country but the other 43 were handed over to Indian authorities at the international maritime border yesterday.
The officer said 43 of the fishermen were adamant in their demand and were insisting on meeting Indian High Commission officials.Six Sri Lankan fishermen along with 13 boats and 20 others described as the owners of the boats were also handed over to the local authorities by the Indian Coast Guard at the maritime border, the official said.
At present there are some 97 Indian fishing craft in Sri Lanka’s custody and although there are orders for the release of 87 craft, the Indian owners are yet to make arrangements to take the vessels, he added.