NEW DELHI: India on Thursday summoned the Sri Lankan acting high commissioner and registered a strong protest over the collision earlier in the day between a Lankan navy vessel and an Indian fishing boat that left an Indian fisherman dead.
Another Indian fisherman was reported missing after the collision.
Indian government expressed shock and anguish at the loss of life and the Indian high commissioner in Colombo, Santosh Jha, also raised the matter with the Lankan govt later on Thursday.
Recalling that India has always emphasised the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, Indian authorities told the Lankan govt that existing understandings between the two govts in that regard must be strictly observed. “Utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence or resort to the use of force,” said the Indian govt in a statement.
The collision was reported five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu Island. Out of the four Indian fishermen who were on board the vessel, one unfortunately lost his life and another is missing, according to the Indian govt.
“Two of the fishermen have been rescued and brought ashore to Kankesanthurai. A search is ongoing for the missing Indian fisherman. Indian consulate officials in Jaffna have been instructed to immediately rush to Kankesanthurai and extend all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families,” it said, adding that India attaches the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian fishermen. Issues relating to Indian fishermen have been raised regularly at the highest levels with the Sri Lankan leadership, it said.
This is the second such incident reported between a Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat in recent times.
In June, Sri Lanka had registered a protest with India for the death of a navy sailor who was killed while attempting to seize an Indian vessel allegedly poaching in Lankan waters. The sailor sustained critical injuries due to “the aggressive manoeuvres of the Indian trawler, resisting its seizure”.
Sri Lanka had detained 10 Indian fishermen for causing the death of the sailor. The MEA had later raised the issue with Lankan authorities and sought their release. Sri Lanka has in the past diplomatically conveyed to India its opposition to alleged IUU fishing, especially bottom trawling and indiscriminate poaching, by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
Another Indian fisherman was reported missing after the collision.
Indian government expressed shock and anguish at the loss of life and the Indian high commissioner in Colombo, Santosh Jha, also raised the matter with the Lankan govt later on Thursday.
Recalling that India has always emphasised the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, Indian authorities told the Lankan govt that existing understandings between the two govts in that regard must be strictly observed. “Utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence or resort to the use of force,” said the Indian govt in a statement.
The collision was reported five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu Island. Out of the four Indian fishermen who were on board the vessel, one unfortunately lost his life and another is missing, according to the Indian govt.
“Two of the fishermen have been rescued and brought ashore to Kankesanthurai. A search is ongoing for the missing Indian fisherman. Indian consulate officials in Jaffna have been instructed to immediately rush to Kankesanthurai and extend all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families,” it said, adding that India attaches the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian fishermen. Issues relating to Indian fishermen have been raised regularly at the highest levels with the Sri Lankan leadership, it said.
This is the second such incident reported between a Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat in recent times.
In June, Sri Lanka had registered a protest with India for the death of a navy sailor who was killed while attempting to seize an Indian vessel allegedly poaching in Lankan waters. The sailor sustained critical injuries due to “the aggressive manoeuvres of the Indian trawler, resisting its seizure”.
Sri Lanka had detained 10 Indian fishermen for causing the death of the sailor. The MEA had later raised the issue with Lankan authorities and sought their release. Sri Lanka has in the past diplomatically conveyed to India its opposition to alleged IUU fishing, especially bottom trawling and indiscriminate poaching, by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.