There was a tense situation in Vadamarachchi on Monday after Sri Lankan police threatened local fishermen, who had apprehended eight Sinhala fishermen engaged in illegal fishing activities, that the Special Task Force (STF) would be called unless the men were handed over.
The local fishermen demanded that authorities find a solution to stop illegal fishing before the men were handed over.
Last month there were prolonged protests in Mullaitivu after local fishermen accused police of releasing Sinhala fishermen without charge despite clear evidence presented to them of their illegal fishing activities.
Mullaitivu fishermen have also protested over government officials accepting bribes to turn a blind eye to illegal activities.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
