by Norman Palihawadana
An armed gang which rounded up five fishing boats off shores at Chilaw have forcibly removed the engines of the fishing boats, Chilaw Police said yesterday.

The armed gang had arrived in a speed-boat around midnight on Thursday.

The fishermen, police said, have jumped into the sea and swam to save their lives.

Several others in fishing boats had seen them and had rescued them.

The boats from which the engines have been removed belong to Warnakulasuriya Leetus Anthony Fernando, Sebastian Fernando, Quintus Fernando and Wilfred Canisius.

Police said that latest reports revealed the five armed men had threatened the fishermen in Sinhalese.

The navy has been deployed to apprehend the suspects.

The value of the engines stolen is around one million rupees.