Fishermen block Galle-Colombo road over missing boat

The Galle –Colombo main road has been temporarily blocked for traffic at Werellana in Hikkaduwa due to a protest by a group of fishermen. 

The protesters had blocked the entire road for a long period of time, however following a request made by the police one lane was kept open for traffic, Ada Derana reporter said. 

He stated that the protesting fisher folk are demanding that authorities locate fishing boat with 7 persons onboard which has gone missing.  

A multiday fishing trawler ‘Sindur - 2’ which had set out to sea from the Galle Fisheries Harbour on June 14 with seven fishermen onboard had gone missing while a complaint has been filed with Meetiyagoda Police due to the boat failing to return to shores. 

The boat in question had reportedly been in communication until June 29 when it was returning back after concluding fishing activities, however there has been no further information regarding the boat ever since. 

The Galle navy camp was also notified with regard to the missing boat on June 29.
  
The protesters say that the boat in question is fitted with a GPS and radar tracking system to locate it during a time of distress, however they say that the Fisheries Ministry has not activated the system despite payment being made for it by the boat owner.