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Sri Lankan Navy denies hand in killing of two Tamil Nadu fishermen

Special Correspondent

“LTTE sea tiger units operating in the area are trying to tarnish our image, ahead of the SAARC summit on August 2”

Indian fishing boats as seen on a Sri Lankan radar in a photograph released by the Sri Lankan Navy.

CHENNAI: Denying the involvement of the Sri Lankan Navy in mid-sea attacks on Indian fishermen, the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, on Saturday said the Sri Lankan Navy exercised utmost care in dealing with suspicious craft at sea to ensure the safety of its own vessels and the safety of innocent Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen and refugees or Internally Displaced Persons who are moving in boats.

In a statement, he said the Sri Lankan Navy focused mainly on maritime surveillance to prevent arms smuggling by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. “It is certain that LTTE sea tiger units operating in the area are making an attempt to create situations at sea to tarnish the image of the Sri Lankan Navy,” he added.

Noting that the Sri Lankan Navy maintained an extremely cordial relationship with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, he said it took care not to cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between Sri Lankan and Indian territorial waters while patrolling.

All the fast attack craft of the Sri Lankan Navy were equipped with day and night cameras, capable of detecting boats and their occupants at considerable distance, he said.

July 11 incident

In a separate statement, the Navy specifically denied that it had any hand in the killing of two Tamil Nadu fishermen off the Vedaranyam coast on July 11.

The statement said: “On 11th July 2008 two SLN fast attack craft deployed on a routine patrol, approximately 8 NM east of Point Pedro detected a suspicious boat by radar approximately, 2110 hrs moving in a north-westerly direction at a speed of 34 knots. Two fast attack craft intercepted the suspicious echo approximately 10 NM north of Point Pedro identified with the night camera that it was an LTTE low profile craft. The video picture of the enemy boat was recorded by the fast attack craft and it is available with the Sri Lankan Navy. The fast attack craft has fired 13 rounds at the enemy boat using 30 mm weapon at a distance of 3.8 km but has failed to destroy the target. The enemy has disappeared towards the IMBL north of Point Pedro and the SLN fast attack craft returned to their designated patrol area. It is reiterated Sri Lanka Navy craft never crossed the IMBL.

Creates suspicion

“On analysing the incident on 11th July 2008, it creates great suspicion as to why a single LTTE boat took off from the Eastern Coast and crossed over to Indian waters north of Point Pedro, where Indian fishing trawlers/boats generally engage in fishing. As done on many occasions in the past, it is very much evident that this LTTE boat has been deployed on a special mission possibly to kill Indian fishermen in the guise of the Sri Lankan Navy with the motive of creating an unpleasant atmosphere at a crucial time for both countries.

“As per media reports, immediately after the incident on 11th July the person who was injured, namely Mr. Murali has called a relative in Vedaranyam on his mobile phone.

“In response to this call boats have come to rescue them. If this incident had taken place in Sri Lankan waters or close to the IMBL in this area it would be impossible to have mobile phone coverage, since the distance involved is over 30 km.”

Specific instructions

The Navy said: “Since the LTTE has taken the cover of Indian trawlers/fishing boats to attack and destroy Sri Lankan Navy craft on several occasions in the past, specific instructions have been issued to officers commanding SLN ships/craft not to get closer to unidentified or Indian boats, especially during dark hours.

“In view of the complex nature of activities at sea all naval operations are directly controlled by the area authorities from the time of any unidentified/suspicious detection at sea.

“Even though Indian fishing boats have been arrested very close to LTTE-held territories creating the greatest suspicion on their behaviour, the Sri Lankan Navy has treated them in the most humane manner until their release,” it said.

Recalls track record

The statement recalled the track record of the LTTE in hijacking Indian fishing trawlers/boats and killing their occupants. “As Sri Lanka is preparing for the SAARC summit on August 2 and 3, with the assistance of India to make it a success, the LTTE’s intentions are very clear.”

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