July 20, Colombo: Sri Lankan fishermen subjected to inclement weather while fishing in international waters have been allowed to reach Maldives.

State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi has instructed the Fisheries Department to take measures to send the fishermen to a safe area as soon as the Minister became aware of the situation.

Accordingly, the fishermen have been allowed to reach Maldives. .

In addition, action was taken to obtain such permission from India as well. .

It has been reported that 20 multi-day fishing boats that were in the international waters near the Maldives were stranded in bad weather. Out of them 14 boats had gone for fishing from Chilaw area while six other multi-day fishing vessels had sailed from Wennappuwa. .

Minister Wedaarachchi issued the directives immediately after receiving the information about the stranded fishermen. .

The Minister further instructed the officials to monitor the weather forecast, .

It has been decided not to allow any vessel to go fishing in the Western, Southern, South Western and North Western seas. Steps have already been taken to inform all fisheries harbors and assistant fisheries directors and to keep relief teams ready covering all harbors. .

According to the weather forecasts received by the Fisheries Department, the inclement weather will continue till the 21st of this month. .