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Olympic medal winner seeks Govt help to free father from Andaman jail
View(s):Youth Olympic medalist Parami Wasanthi is pleading with authorities to help secure the release of her father who has been imprisoned in the Andaman Islands after his fishing trawler drifted towards it. Parami Wasanthi Maristela Fernando won a Bronze at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina; becoming the first Lankan female youth to win a medal at this level.
Parami with her parents Rita and Anthony
Parami’s father, Anthony Tudor, a fisherman, went to sea with 6 other fishermen in his Inukshi trawler on Jan 6. They were held by the Indian Coast Guard on Jan 28 near Andaman Islands. The fishermen were residents of Ambakandawila and Thoduwawa in Chilaw.
Parami’s mother, Rita Margaret Silva, said her husband made much sacrifice to bring the girls up with his meagre earnings. “Our daughter brought pride to Sri Lanka winning the medal.”
Speaking to the Sunday Times Parami said “Given the deadly pandemic, we request the Government to ask the Indian government to release my father on humanitarian grounds.”