The Rameswaram Boat Association President Sesuraya has demanded that the Indian embassy officials in Sri Lanka should not participate in the Kachadhivu festival ignoring the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu.
The President said they were boycotting the festival as five of the fishermen who were arrested for engaging in cross-border fishing in Sri Lankan waters have been jailed with severe warnings, while the livelihood of the fishermen's families is in question.
“We are saddened to know that the officials of the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka are preparing to go to the Kachathivu festival, which is held only with the participation of Sri Lankan pilgrims,” he said.
Respecting the sentiments of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu, the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka should also boycott the festival on humanitarian grounds, he said.
At the same time, he said that the Sri Lankan government, which refuses to show humanity by freeing 5 fishermen, should not pay the expenses for the Kachathivu festival from the tax money of the Indian people, he added.
Former President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake was today remanded until February 11 by the Fort Magistrate in relation to the case where former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is alleged to have misused Rs. 16.6 million in state funds during a visit to the UK to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton.
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A group of fishermen yesterday claimed that they were assaulted by Indian Coastal guards while returning back to Sri Lanka.
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