'Probe How Smuggler Met Lanka President'

Amid allegations that the fisherfolk group which met Sri Lankan President Mytripala Sirisena recently included a smuggler, the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF)  has demanded that the State, Central, and Sri Lankan governments probe the incident and bring to book the fake fishermen associations, the New Indian Express Reported. “We expect the governments to investigate and come up with a report that would absolve the traditional fishermen from the blame of being smugglers,” said M Ilango, former MLA and chairperson of NFF was quoted by the Express at a press conference. A heroin stock worth `8 crore was smuggled into Sri Lanka recently by these bogus associations in nexus with spurious forums, he alleged according to the report. To prevent smuggling of gold and narcotics under the banner of such associations, the governments must initiate stringent action, he said, and added that such activities put a severe strain on the on-going talks.