A total of 19 fishing boats were handed over to fishermen in the Trincomalee District whose livelihoods were devastated by last year’s Cyclone ‘Ditwah’, under a financial allocation of Rs. 1.3 million.

The ceremony, held at the Trincomalee District Secretariat yesterday (13), was organized by District Secretary W.G.M. Hemanta Kumara and attended by Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar, who formally presented the boats to the beneficiaries.

According to the government, the initiative was aimed at supporting fishermen who lost boats and equipment during the cyclone, leaving them in severe hardship. 

The provision of new boats will enable them to resume fishing activities and rebuild their livelihoods. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy yesterday (23) rendered assistance to bring ashore an ill fisherman for urgent medical treatment after he developed a sudden medical emergency aboard a local multiday fishing trawler.

The trawler, carrying six crew members, had departed Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour on July 15 and was operating about 244 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka when one crew member fell critically ill.

Following a request for help, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo coordinated the response, alerting merchant vessels in the area. The vessel CMA CGM BAHIA responded, safely transferring the fisherman onboard to provide immediate assistance.

A Navy craft attached to the Western Naval Command received the patient from the merchant vessel. Naval personnel administered first aid before bringing him to the Port of Colombo, from where he was rushed to the National Hospital of Colombo for further treatment.

The Navy said it remains on alert for such emergencies affecting fishing and naval communities, working closely with MRCC Colombo to ensure rapid response. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has seized an Indian fishing trawler and apprehended nine Indian fishermen engaged in illegal fishing after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) north of Talaimannar.

According to Navy reports, more than 50 Indian fishing trawlers had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters south of Iranativu on Wednesday (22), engaging in illegal fishing activities.

During the operation, one trawler was seized and nine crew members taken into custody.

The apprehended fishermen and the seized vessel were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar on Thursday (May 14) urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, to ban the destructive bottom trawling fishing method, a practice prohibited in Sri Lanka since 2017.

Expressing willingness to resolve the fisheries conflict through talks and diplomatic channels, he said he hoped to travel to Tamil Nadu to meet the newly elected leader.

Addressing a press conference in Kilinochchi, Minister Chandrasekar made mention of the long-festering fisheries conflict in the Palk Strait, which impacts Tamil fishermen in northern Sri Lanka and their counterparts in Tamil Nadu, in response to a question from the media. (The Hindu)

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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has strongly condemned the brutal assault of a Sri Lankan fisherman in Tamil Nadu, describing the incident as “deeply alarming” and calling for urgent government intervention.

Rajapaksa said the fisherman was attacked by Tamil Nadu fishermen, even in the presence of local police, and urged authorities to ensure his immediate safety and secure his swift return home. 

“This incident also underscores the urgent need for stronger border control measures to better protect our fishermen from the Northern Province,” he said in a statement on ‘X’. 

Rajapaksa further accused Tamil Nadu politicians of exploiting Sri Lankan Tamil issues for political gain while remaining silent when Sri Lankan fishermen are attacked on Tamil Nadu soil. (Newswire)

Disturbing scenes of an our fisherman being brutally assaulted by fishermen from Tamil Nadu is deeply alarming. Such acts of violence are unacceptable. I strongly urge the government to intervene without delay, ensure his immediate safety, and take all necessary steps to secure… pic.twitter.com/lhBSzVVWRb

— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) April 28, 2026

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The Sri Lankan Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended four (04) Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off the north of Mannar.

According to the Navy, the North Central Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing and trespassing into Sri Lankan waters during an operation conducted on Sunday (13).

In response, naval craft of the North Central Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from the seas off Mannar. 

Meanwhile, a compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of the Indian fishing boat and apprehension of four Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat and Indian fishermen have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Kilinochchi for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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Six Sri Lankan fishermen have been released after spending eight months in detention in Bangladesh for allegedly entering the country’s maritime boundary illegally.

According to the Dinamina newspaper, the group had set out on a multi‑day fishing vessel in July 2025 and was apprehended by the Bangladesh Navy. 

They were subsequently held at Chittagong Central Prison while legal proceedings were carried out.

The fishermen, aged 23, 27, 38, 40, 46, and 58, endured months of imprisonment that left their families in Sri Lanka facing severe hardship. 

Appeals from relatives prompted diplomatic intervention by the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Sri Lankan High Commission in Bangladesh, leading to their release yesterday (31).

They were brought to Dhaka International Airport today (April 1) and are scheduled to arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, tomorrow (02), coordinated by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (Newswire)

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Minister of Fisheries, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, has requested all fishing communities in the country not to engage in fishing activities beyond Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary.

The Minister pointed out that this decision was taken considering the risky situation prevailing within international maritime boundaries.

The Fisheries Minister made the statement while speaking in Parliament regarding the Iranian warship that was sunk by a US attack and another Iranian vessel currently positioned within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary.

Yesterday, the United States, with the assistance of a submarine, attacked and sank an Iranian warship in the sea beyond Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary. 

Accordingly, search operations are currently being carried out in that maritime area.

Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries has issued a special set of instructions to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan multi‑day fishing vessels engaged in work in international waters, in view of the warlike atmosphere near the Gulf region. 

The Department’s Director General, Susanta Kahawatta, said that fishermen should always engage in their work only in traditionally used fishing grounds.

He also informed that no vessel suspected of being involved in military activities, nor any foreign ship or vessel, should be approached.

Fishing communities were further advised to completely refrain from exchanging goods or engaging in any transactions with other vessels, and to travel only through the usual routes used when departing for and returning from fishing activities.

The Department of Fisheries emphasized that no fishing vessel has so far been affected due to the prevailing situation. (Newswire)

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The High Commission of India in Colombo has denied allegations that Indian Navy or Coast Guard personnel were involved in an alleged incident of assault of Sri Lankan fishermen at sea on January 29, 2026.

The Indian mission said that investigations on their side confirmed no such assault had been carried out by Indian forces.

India reiterated its long-standing position that a humanitarian approach should be taken regarding fishermen’s livelihood issues and emphasized that force should never be used in such situations.

The statement added that India remains in contact with the Government of Sri Lanka on this matter. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy seized 01 Indian fishing boat and apprehended 03 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, south of Delft Island in Jaffna on Saturday (27 Dec). 

According to the Navy, the Indian fishermen were arrested during regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats trespassing into island waters.

As such, the Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from the island waters off Delft Island. 

Meanwhile, a compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing boat and the apprehension of 03 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat and Indian fishermen were brought to the Karainagar Jetty and were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday wrote to Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic intervention to prevent the continued detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and to secure the swift release of those currently in custody along with their fishing boats.

In his letter, Stalin drew attention to a fresh incident in which three fishermen from Ramanathapuram district were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday while fishing in what they said were traditional fishing waters. The fishermen had ventured out from the Mandapam fishing harbour on December 27 and were arrested along with their mechanised fishing boat the next day on charges of crossing the maritime boundary.

Expressing serious concern, the Chief Minister said such incidents have been occurring with alarming frequency and have caused severe disruption to the livelihoods of thousands of fishing families along the Tamil Nadu coast. He noted that repeated arrests and seizure of boats have pushed fishermen into economic distress and uncertainty, even as many continue to depend solely on the sea for survival.

According to the data cited in the letter, 61 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 248 fishing boats remain under the custody of Sri Lankan authorities. Stalin urged the Union government to take up the matter urgently through appropriate diplomatic channels to ensure the early release of all detained fishermen and their vessels and to put in place effective mechanisms to prevent such arrests in the future.

The Chief Minister reiterated that safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen must remain a top priority in bilateral engagements with Sri Lanka. (DT Next)

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Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Tuesday (23 Dec) arrested at least 12 fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district on charges of poaching in international waters. 

According to the Indian media, The Hindu, their trawler was impounded.

“The 12 fishermen were engaged in fishing between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar waters. A surveillance team from Sri Lanka apprehended them and took them to a Naval port in the island nation, along with their trawler,” Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials said.

On Monday (22 Dec), about 450 tokens were issued to fishermen from the Rameswaram jetty. The trawler impounded by the Sri Lankan Navy is owned by Jothibas of Manthoppu, Thangachimadam. It is said the boat, though not registered with the authorities, had obtained a token. The 12 fishermen include Prabhat (28), James Heiton (29), and Antony (32), officials said.

Expressing concern over their livelihood, fishermen from the region appealed to the State and Union governments to secure the release of the arrested persons. Fishermen’s associations are likely to convene a meeting on Tuesday and discuss the next course of action. (Newswire)

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A fishing vessel carrying six Sri Lankan fishermen has been detained on suspicion of transporting narcotics.

The arrest took place off the southern maritime border of Sri Lanka, during a joint operation conducted by the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Sri Lanka Navy.

Reports indicate that approximately 15 parcels suspected to contain narcotics were found onboard.

The fishermen and the vessel are scheduled to be brought to the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour this afternoon (20) for further investigation. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 14 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Analativu Island, Jaffna, last night.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. 

In response, the Northern Naval Command and Sri Lanka Coast Guard deployed their craft to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters. 

However, a compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of the Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 14 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The fishing boat, along with the fishermen held in this operation, was handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Chithral Fernando yesterday met the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, requesting that technology from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) be provided to prevent the loss of lives of Sri Lankan fishermen in the high seas.

In a statement on social media, MP Fernando said that during the young political leaders’ visit to India last June, he had the opportunity to visit ISRO in Bangalore and It was learned that, in addition to space exploration, ISRO has developed and is successfully using the DAT-SG (Distress Alert Transmitter – Second Generation) system, which employs satellite technology to prevent disasters faced by fishermen in the high seas.

“After further studying the matter, I met with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and requested that steps be taken to provide this technology for the benefit of Sri Lankan fishermen, starting with pilot testing along the coastal areas of the Puttalam District,” he said.

MP Fernando further said that, in addition, he had requested the Indian High Commissioner to provide the Indian NAVIC technology software, which facilitates fishing activities, to the Sri Lankan fishing community. (Newswire)

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar to initiate immediate diplomatic efforts with the Sri Lankan Government to secure the release of all the detained fishermen.

“I wish to bring to your kind attention the recent apprehension of 35 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu and their fishing boats by the Sri Lankan Navy,” Stalin informed Jaishankar in a DO (Demi-Official) letter on Monday.

He explained that on Monday, the Sri Lankan Navy detained 31 fishermen from Nagapattinam along with their three mechanised fishing boats. On the same day, in a separate incident, four fishermen from Ramanathapuram District were also apprehended, along with their country craft.

“These recurrent incidents have caused profound distress among the fishing communities of Tamil Nadu, whose lives and livelihoods are inextricably linked to the sea. Each apprehension not only deprives families of their primary means of sustenance but also instils a deep sense of fear and insecurity. As of now, 114 fishermen and 247 boats are under the custody of Sri Lankan authorities,” the letter pointed out.

Stalin requested the Union Minister to initiate immediate diplomatic efforts with the Sri Lankan Government to secure the release of all the detained fishermen from Tamil Nadu along with their fishing boats. (DT Next)

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The case against eight Sri Lankan fishermen who are detained in Madagascar for engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities will be taken up for hearing today (04 Aug).

According to the Sunday Times, the multi-day fishing vessel, which had departed from the Wellamankara fishing harbour on April 25, was seized by Madagascar’s maritime patrol on June 2 within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

At the time of seizure, it was reported that the crew failed to produce valid entry documents or fishing licenses and had tampered with navigation data and the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The vessel was also not flying a national flag at the time of its capture, complicating identification.

The Malagasy Police had also discovered 16,125 kilograms of frozen shark heads, 1,618 kilograms of dried shark fillets, 23 kilograms of dried shark fins, and 4 kilograms of dried shark gills aboard. The shark species are listed under Appendix II of the CITES agreement.

A previous court proceeding in Madagascar, conducted in French, was postponed to today due to the unavailability of a Sinhala-French translator. 

It is reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in to provide a Sinhala-French interpretation for the upcoming court hearing to assist the fishermen who are detained in Madagascar.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular Affairs Division and in coordination with the Sri Lanka High Commission in Seychelles, accredited to Madagascar, has been actively engaged in the matter. (Newswire)

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Twenty-two (22) persons involved in various illegal fishing activities were apprehended along with 05 dinghies in several locations off the coast of Sri Lanka, in multiple operations conducted from 23 to 31 July 2025.

The arrests were made during separate operations conducted by the Navy in coordination with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Meanwhile, 01 person with 210 unauthorized fishing nets was also nabbed during another operation conducted with the Police.

According to the Navy, the group of 22 suspects were arrested by the Eastern and North Central Naval Commands in the coastal areas of Cod Bay, Kumburupiddi, Kinniya, Flag Staff Point and Muttur in Trincomalee and Karativu in Mannar.

They were nabbed for fishing with unauthorized nets and explosives, and engaging in illegal diving, while Naval personnel also held 06 unauthorized fishing nets and 05 dinghies during the operations.

Similarly, during a combined search operation conducted in the Kantale area by the Eastern Naval Command in collaboration with the Kantale Police, one suspect was arrested with 210 unauthorized fishing nets prepared for sale. 

The suspects, along with fishing boats and unauthorized gear seized in these raids, were handed over to the offices of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Trincomalee, Cod Bay and Mannar, as well as Kuchchaveli and Kantale Police stations for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 02 Indian fishing boats and apprehended 14 Indian fishermen for poaching off the coasts of Baththalangunduwa and north of Mannar.

The Navy said the fishermen were arrested during operations conducted yesterday to curb illegal fishing practices in Sri Lankan waters.

Accordingly, the Northwestern and North Central Naval Commands had spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing and trespassing into Sri Lankan waters last night. 

In response, both Naval Commands had deployed their Inshore Patrol Craft to drive away those Indian fishing boats off the coasts of Baththalangunduwa and north of Mannar. 

A compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of 02 Indian fishing boats and apprehension of 14 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boats and Indian fishermen were brought to Kalpitiya and Talaimannar Pier and were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Mannar and Puttalam, for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lankan government has initiated diplomatic intervention to secure the release of eight fishermen detained in Madagascar for engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage said the multi-day fishing vessel was seized by maritime patrol on June 2 within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The vessel had departed from the Wellamankara fishing harbour on April 25.

Authorities in Madagascar reported that the crew failed to produce valid entry documents or fishing licenses and had tampered with navigation data and the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The vessel was not flying a national flag at the time of its capture, complicating identification.

The Malagasy Police discovered 16,125 kilograms of frozen shark heads, 1,618 kilograms of dried shark fillets, 23 kilograms of dried shark fins, and 4 kilograms of dried shark gills aboard. The shark species are listed under Appendix II of the CITES agreement.

Sri Lankan officials said the vessel owner failed to inform authorities or the fishermen’s families, and allegedly pressured families not to report the incident.

Court proceedings in Madagascar, conducted in French, were postponed to August 4 due to the unavailability of a Sinhala-French translator. Deputy Minister Gamage confirmed discussions with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Seychelles to arrange interpretation support.

The Department of Fisheries and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are actively working to expedite the release of the fishermen, officials said. (Newswire)

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