A team of 81 people from the south Indian State of Tamil Nadu is heading to Sri Lanka’s northern areas to repair the Indian fishing boats that were rescued by the Lankan navy following the cyclone that wreaked damage in coastal areas of the state.
The personnel on board 16 boats were on their way from Tamil Nadu, the Navy said.
Nine Indian boats with 40 fishermen had been rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy late last month after they were caught in troubled waters following Cyclone Thane.
35 of the 40 fishermen from the state who had drifted into Sri Lankan waters following adverse weather conditions were brought back by the Indian Coast Guard to Mandapam yesterday, after they were released by the court in the Island republic.
While two of the boats were used to repatriate the 35 men, seven others needed repairs to be able to sail back, the Navy added.
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