Sri Lankan Authorities to Pursue Murder Charges in Sailor's Death

COLOMBO (News 1st) Sri Lanka's Navy Commander said that the death of a sailor from the Navy Special Boat Squadron who succumbed after suffering critical injuries due to the aggressive maneuvers of an Indian trawler, resisting its seizure, will be considered as murder, and a homicide investigation will be carried out.

The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters in the early hours on 25th June.

The Northern Naval Command deployed its Fast Attack Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off Kankasanthurai this morning.

The Sri Lanka Navy said that an attempt was made to detain the indian fishermen who violated the country's territorial waters.

The Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft had moved closer to the Indian vessel, and a sailor from the Navy Special Boat Squadron sustained critical injuries due to the aggressive maneuvers of an Indian trawler, resisting its seizure.

The Sri Lanka Navy confirmed that the sailor succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to the Teaching Hospital in Jaffna.

The operation resulted in the seizure of an Indian poaching trawler (1) and apprehension of 10 Indian fishermen.

The Indian fishermen had set out to sea from Nagapatnam in India.

The sailor from the Navy Special Boat Squadron who passed away was Priyantha Rathnayake.

A resident of Hippawwa Ibbagamuwa, he was 41 years old at the time of his demise.

Priyantha Rathnayake joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 2004 and showed real promise as a diver.

He was father to a 6 year old son and an 11 year old daughter.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister President's Counsel Ali Sabry told Newsfirst that this incident was discussed during a meeting between the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India and the Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India had highlighted the need to resolve the issue regarding fishermen as soon as possible.

President's Counsel Ali Sabry said that the Indian Minister of External Affairs highlighted the need for the Fisheries Ministeries of the two countries to work together to resolve the matter.

A total of 214 Indian fisherfolk have been arrested so far this year for poaching in the Sea of Sri Lanka.

The Spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Navy said that 28 Indian FIshing Trawlers have also been seized.