Fisherman killed by Navy fire

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One fisherman was killed when the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) opened fire at two fishing boats around 10.30 a.m. today, in the seas of Pulmoddai 51 km north of Trincomalee, said sources in the eastern port town today. Both fishing boats were also destroyed, added the sources.

SLN sources however said that Navy patrol boats observing two fishing boats inside the prohibited Pulmoddai seas had ordered them to stop.

However, the fishermen had jumped into the sea and tried to escape, forcing the SLN to open fire, said the Navy sources.

Further details are not known.