Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar has ordered relevant authorities to expedite search operations for four fishermen who went missing after heading out to sea from Point Pedro and Karkovalam in the Jaffna peninsula on Wednesday night.
The four men set out in two boats at around 11pm and are believed to have been unable to return to shore because of strong winds in the area, according to police accounts reported by Newswire. The minister urged the Sri Lanka Navy and all other agencies involved to make every effort to ensure their safe return.
A special search operation involving the Sri Lanka Air Force was launched on Friday, and extensive searches using advanced technological equipment are continuing across the surrounding sea areas. Authorities have also shared information regarding the missing fishermen with maritime security agencies in neighbouring countries, with international coordination efforts underway to support the search operation.
The disappearance coincides with an Amber advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology for strong winds and very rough seas stretching from Kankasanthurai through Mannar to Chilaw — the stretch of coastline that includes the Point Pedro fishing fleet’s traditional grounds. Northern fishermen remain particularly exposed during weather advisories because they often sortie at night and operate in shallower, weather-sensitive boats.
The incident comes as the northern fisheries community continues to negotiate with Tamil Nadu counterparts over bottom-trawling and arrests on the SL side of the maritime boundary — and arrives barely two months after Bangladesh released six SL fishermen lost across the Bay of Bengal.
Source: Newswire.
