SL Naval personnel surround fishing boats; ask them to return

More than 3000 fishermen who had put to sea from here and nearby Mandapam today were forced to return ashore after Sri Lankan naval personnel reportedly surrounded their boats in mid sea off this coastal town and asked them to go back.

Fisheries department officials quoting the fishermen said the Lankans used power focus lights on their boats to signal them not to enter their territorial waters.

The fishermen told officials they were incurring heavy loss on diesel as they were not able to fish in their traditional areas.