Two Mannar fishermen reported missing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 16:39 GMT]
Mr.Jeyaraj Terrance aged 25, father of two children and Mr.Sanmugam Govindan aged 36, both fishermen from Kitaspathiri, Pesalai in Mannar district have been reported missing since December 28, sources from Mannar said. According to complaints lodged with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Mannar and Mannar Citizen Committee by Ms Subashini (25), wife of Mr.Terrance and Ms. Shanmugavelu (56), mother of Mr.Govindan, both had gone for fishing in Mannar Sea in a fibreglass boat on December 28 but have not returned yet, sources said.

However, both fishermen had handed over their day catch to fellow fishermen who were returning to the shore on December 29 around noon in mid-sea, stating that they would be back following day, complainants said.

But both fishermen have failed to return on December 30 and December 31 till noon, complainants said.

Complaints had been lodged with the Talaimannar Police Station on December 29 regarding this matter, sources said.