Six Sri Lankan fishermen detained by Bangladesh authorities since July 2025 have returned home after approximately nine months in custody, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
The fishermen, crew members of the fishing vessel SLFV Sudu Duwa-4 (registration IMUL-A-0138-PTM), arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport at 5:10 a.m. on April 2 aboard FitsAir flight 8D912.
The ministry said the release was achieved through “diplomatic engagement, with the cooperation of Bangladesh authorities, as a gesture of humanitarian goodwill and longstanding friendly relations between the two countries.”
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Dhaka led the repatriation effort, with coordination from the Consular Affairs Division and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Sri Lanka expressed its appreciation to Bangladesh for facilitating the safe return of the fishermen. The two countries have maintained warm bilateral ties, and both nations are currently navigating shared economic pressures including the search for alternative energy supplies amid the Middle East crisis.
Fishermen detentions remain a recurring issue in the Indian Ocean region, with Sri Lankan, Indian, and Bangladeshi vessels frequently crossing disputed maritime boundaries.
