• SLN search ongoing for missing Indian fisher 

The Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha was scheduled to raise the matter of the death of an Indian fisherman and the disappearance of an Indian fisherman at sea with the Government of Sri Lanka yesterday (1 August).

This was according to a press statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

According to the said press release: “A collision was reported early yesterday morning between a Sri Lankan Naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat, five nautical miles North of the Katchatheevu Island. Out of the four Indian fishermen who were onboard the vessel, one lost his life and another is missing. Two of the fishermen have been rescued and brought ashore to Kankesanthurai (KKS). A search is ongoing for the missing Indian fisherman. Indian Consulate Officials in Jaffna were instructed to immediately rush to KKS and extend all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families. The Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi Priyanga Wickremesinghe was called in yesterday to the Ministry of External Affairs and a protest where ‘shock and anguish at the loss of life’ was registered over the incident. The Indian Government emphasised the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner where the existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed, and utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence or resort to the use of force as the Indian Government attaches the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian fishermen.” 

However, issuing a media release in this regard, the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) stated that the incident took place after the Indian fishing boat in question, which was illegally poaching in Sri Lankan waters, capsized during an interception attempt. It was reported in local print media that an Indian fisherman has died, and another Indian fisherman is missing after an Indian trawler capsized during an attempt by the SLN to drive it away from Sri Lankan waters early yesterday morning. According to the SLN Spokesperson quoted in these reports, the incident had occurred off the Delft Island, while the Navy was conducting an operation to chase away poaching Indian trawlers, and when the Indian trawler in question, carrying four fishermen, capsized due to aggressive manoeuvres and rough sea conditions. The SLN is conducting a search operation to locate the missing Indian fisherman. One of the rescued fishermen was admitted to the Pungudutivu Divisional Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.  The other two fishermen are reported to be in stable condition. The Indian authorities have been notified of the incident.

The incident comes in the wake of a SLN cadre being killed during an operation to seize an Indian fishing boat in July.

Dozens of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen are arrested by the two countries each year on charges of violating the maritime boundary or illegal fishing.

During a recent visit to India, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya also stressed the need to hold a discussion on the fishermen issue between Sri Lanka and India, emphasising that both countries must look into this ‘long-lasting issue’ from a sustainable perspective.