Update to the news release on ‘Navy in search and rescue operation to locate missing fisherman on sunken Indian poaching vessel in Sri Lankan waters’ on 20th October 2021.

The corpse of the fisherman of the sunken Indian poaching vessel was handed over to the Indian authorities at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) this morning (23rd October 2021). A search and rescue (SAR) operation mounted by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) led to the recovery of the body of missing fisherman who was aboard the Indian poaching vessel which sank northwest of the Kovilan Lighthouse in Sri Lankan waters in the evening of 18th October.

An SLN Fast Attack Craft transferred the corpse and formally handed over it to the Indian Coast Guard at the IMBL this morning. Meanwhile, onward legal proceedings regarding the 02 fishermen rescued by the Navy from the peril are currently underway at the Kayts Magistrate Court.

The Navy ensured the conduct of all measures adhering to COVID-19 protocols to prevent possibilities of the pandemic spread.