On Saturday morning, 21 Indian fishermen who had been detained in Sri Lanka arrived safely at Chennai airport. The Indian High Commission in Colombo and the Consulate General in Jaffna successfully negotiated their release on Thursday.
The High Commission of India in Colombo announced the news on X, saying: “Returning home! 21 Indian fishermen have been successfully repatriated and are on their way to Chennai from Colombo.”
Representatives from the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna visited the Kayts police station to check on the well-being of two fishermen who were among a group of four whose boat capsized after a collision with a Sri Lankan naval vessel.
Indian Consul General Sai Murali verified the safety and condition of the fishermen Muthumuniyandu and Mookaiah.
The incident occurred when a Sri Lankan naval vessel collided with an Indian fishing boat about 5 nautical miles north of Katchatheevu Island on Thursday. The collision resulted in the death of one fisherman, with another still missing. The two surviving fishermen were rescued and taken to Kankesanthurai.
The Consulate officials also arranged for phone calls to the fishermen’s families in India to update them on their situation and ensure their well-being.
The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi to express strong objections to the incident that led to the death of the Indian fisherman. Efforts are underway to locate the missing fisherman.
The Indian Consulate in Jaffna has instructed its officials to travel promptly to Kankesanthurai to provide all necessary support to the affected fishermen and their families during this challenging time.
