By Dinasena Rathugamage
The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Jaffna recently conducted a public auction of items seized from Indian fishing vessels that had illegally entered Northern Sri Lankan waters.
The auction featured a range of equipment, including gas cylinders, gas stoves, mobile phones, chargers, and batteries, which had been held in the custody of the Department for a considerable period.
While these smaller items have now been sold, the Indian fishing trawlers involved remain under the custody of the Sri Lanka Navy. Authorities stated that the vessels will also be auctioned once the ongoing legal proceedings are concluded.
The auction attracted a large number of buyers from across the country, with many traveling to Jaffna to participate. The sale generated approximately Rs. 2 million (20 lakhs) in revenue.
Following the auction, the Rameswaram United Fishermen’s Association appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka to allocate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the seized equipment and vessels to the Indian fishermen who originally owned them. However, authorities have not granted this request so far.
