The multi-day fishing vessel that departed from Wennappuwa was set on fire and destroyed by Seychelles authorities within their maritime boundaries.

Mr. Ruwan Fernando, Secretary of the All Ceylon Multi-day Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, emphasizes that international environmental organizations should intervene and conduct an immediate investigation into the incident where a Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessel, which departed from the Wennappuwa Wellamankaraya fishing harbor, was set on fire and destroyed by the Seychelles security forces within their maritime boundaries.

This vessel named "Ishani 1", which had departed for international waters for fishing activities on December 07 last year with six fishermen, was arrested on the 30th of last month within Seychelles maritime boundaries by their Coast Guard and Special Operations Unit. Thereupon, after taking the fishermen on board into the custody of the security forces, the Seychelles security forces took steps to set fire to and destroy the said vessel.

Mr. Susil Fernando, a resident of Thalwila, Marawila, who is the owner of the vessel and commented on the incident, points out that if his vessel, which was near Mauritius Island by the 24th of last month, had somehow entered Seychelles maritime boundaries and committed an offense, there was the possibility to take legal action according to their law and impose punishment. He stated that even countries like India and the Maldives act within the legal framework in such situations, but setting fire to and destroying the vessel at sea by implementing jungle law is absolutely unacceptable, and that the government and the Department of Fisheries should intervene immediately in this matter.

Although the Seychelles security forces arrested the said vessel on charges of violating maritime boundaries and causing environmental damage, Mr. Ruwan Fernando, Secretary of the All Ceylon Multi-day Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, points out that by setting fire to the vessel, they have caused an even greater environmental disaster. He stated that international environmental organizations should pay attention to the serious environmental damage caused by the large amount of fuel, oil types, and styrofoam that entered the sea due to the vessel being set on fire.

It is reported that although the said vessel was arrested on December 30, Sri Lanka was informed about it only on January 03, by which time the vessel had already been destroyed. A group of fishermen residing in the Beruwala area had traveled on this vessel, and although it is stated on the Seychelles security forces' websites that all of them have been arrested, multi-day fishing vessel owners also allege that no official notification has been made to the authorities in this country to date.