(UTV|COLOMBO) – The Fisheries Department of Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development has provided over Rs. 440,000 to bring home the seven fishermen on Sindur-2 vessel, who were found in Maldives coast after they went missing with their vessel last month.
The Fisheries Department on Friday (13) handed over the check for the airfare for the fishermen to return to Sri Lanka from the Maldives and for their enteral well-being and other requirements, an official said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hand over the money to the Maldives Government.
The fishermen will be sent to Sri Lanka within the next few days after preparing temporary passports and other necessary arrangements.
Assistant Director of the Fisheries Ministry, Padmapriya Tissera said all necessary steps are being taken by Director General of Fisheries Department Prasanna Ginige under the guidance of Minister Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa and State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi to bring the fishermen back to Sri Lanka quickly.
He said that Maldivian Government has provided the needed facilities to the fishermen, and since Friday was a holiday for the Maldivian Government, it will take another two to three days to process their return.
The Fisheries Department has also prepared the documents and permits necessary for the owner of the boat and five others to take the equipment to repair the boat and bring it back to Sri Lanka. The documents have been directed to the Maldivian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Sindur-2 fishing vessel and the seven fishermen left Galle harbor on 14 June and went missing from 29 June. The fishermen and their multi-day boat were found 10th July near an island about 48 nautical miles from the Maldives.
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