Refuting claims made on social media that an attempt is currently underway to excavate sand from the Sri Lankan sea, Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson Capt Indika De Silva said that the alleged vessel concerned had docked off the coast due to a shortage of fuel and was on a voyage transporting limestone from Dubai to Bangladesh. He made this statement while speaking to The Morning today (24). "Media is circulating stories. The truth is that this ship is transporting limestone from Dubai to Bangladesh, and this consignment happens usually around this time of year. Unfortunately, the ship had faced a fuel shortage and docked in Sri Lankan waters on the 15th of December. By the time the local agent had organised the re-fueling of the ship, it took a bit of time," said Capt. De Silva. Earlier today, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, on a twitter post, had mentioned that local fisherman considered this alleged sand excavation as illegal and that there were armed officers in civilian clothing guarding the ship. When contacted by The Morning, Rasamanickam said that local fisherman have also noticed smaller ships sailing to and from the main ship. "Local fisherman have noticed that smaller dodgy looking ships have been sailing in the late hours of the night and early hours of the day to and from the ship. The fisherman claim that when they had tried approaching the ship, armed guards have turned them away. The local Grama Niladari had tired to speak to the authorities, but was turned down as well," said Rasamanickam. In response to these allegations, Capt De Silva said that the smaller ships had sailed to the main ship to transport barrels of fuel. "This was done in a rush and the local agent had organised the re-fueling, thus it was done at a time when they wanted to do it,' said Capt De Silva.