India has lodged a formal protest with Sri Lanka following a tragic incident early Thursday morning in which a collision between a Sri Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat resulted in the death of one fisherman and left another missing.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Sri Lanka’s acting high commissioner, Priyanga Wickremesinghe, to express India’s strong objections over the collision, which occurred five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu island. The clash resulted in four Indian fishermen being on board the affected vessel. While two were rescued and taken to Kankesanthurai, one fisherman was confirmed dead, and efforts are underway to locate the missing individual.
The incident escalates existing tensions between the two countries over maritime disputes involving fishing. This comes after a Sri Lankan Navy personnel was killed in July during an operation against an Indian fishing boat.
The Indian consulate in Jaffna has been instructed to provide all necessary assistance to the fishermen and their families. Additionally, India’s High Commissioner in Colombo, Santosh Jha, is expected to address the issue with the Sri Lankan government.
The Indian government has reiterated its stance on handling such issues with humanitarian considerations and has emphasized the importance of adhering to existing agreements to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Both nations face recurring challenges with fishermen being arrested for boundary violations or illegal fishing, underlining the need for diplomatic and humane resolutions.
The Indian government remains committed to safeguarding the safety and security of its fishermen, highlighting the ongoing dialogue with Sri Lankan authorities to resolve these maritime disputes amicably.