TWO BODIES RECOVERED FOLLOWING MID-SEA COLLISION

Colombo (News 1st); The bodies of two Indian fishermen who were aboard the Indian fishing boat that collided with a Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft in the northern seas were recovered on Wednesday (20) evening. Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika De Silva speaking to News 1st said the bodies will be brought ashore and will be handed over to the Indian authorities following an autopsy. Sri Lanka Navy launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation in search of a sunken Indian fishing boat and its fishermen, in Sri Lankan waters about 8 nautical miles (15 km) within the IMBL northwest of Delft Island, following a resisting arrest incident that took place in the dark hours on 18th January 2021. SLN units on patrol carried out an operation to seize Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters trespassing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), after observing more than 50 trawlers. As the operation was panning out, one of the Indian fishing trawlers, with aggressive maneuvers resisting the arrest, was in an attempt to evade from the scene making it collide with SLN Craft in operation and ultimately sank at sea having lost its stability. The collision also led causing of damages to the SLN Fast Attack Craft which was subsequently brought to Kankesanthurai harbor safely for repair work. Following the incident, Sri Lanka Navy commenced a search and rescue operation in search of the fishers on the sunken trawler and the operation is being augmented by a diving team as well as SLN ships and craft, in the sea area where the incident occurred. Indian fishermen in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu hoisted black flags in their boats on Wednesday (20) as a mark of protest and report claim they are to move towards Katchchatheevu in the coming days to add pressure on the Indian Central Government on the matter.