Navy finds 400 water gel sticks at Kakarativu Island, Jaffna

A special search operation conducted by the Navy at the Kakarativu Island, Jaffna this morning (20^th October 2022), led to the recovery of 400 water gel sticks which are used as commercial explosives.

Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular operations to prevent illegal fishing practices conducted by a handful of people using explosives, disregarding its harmful repercussions on marine ecosystems. In a similar operation, the naval establishment SLNS Kanchadewa in the Northern Naval Command unearthed a buried sack with 400 water gel sticks, at the Kakarativu Island this morning (20^th October 2022).

Meanwhile, the Northern Naval Command recovered 706 water gel sticks from the Kakarativu Island, during previous operations carried out on 05th and 07th October as well.

It is suspected that these explosive items have been hidden away with the intention of using them for blast fishing later. Meanwhile, the recovered cache of explosives has been kept in the naval custody until it is handed over for onward legal action.