Navy comes to rescue of pilot fallen overboard off Colombo Port

The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a pilot who fell overboard while attempting to board a merchant vessel near the entrance to the Colombo port in dark hours, on 17 September 2026.

The incident occurred as the pilot was preparing to guide the incoming merchant vessel into the harbour. Following an immediate notice from the Colombo Harbour Port Control, the Navy dispatched the Inshore Patrol Craft P 164 patrolling in the vicinity of the port entrance to launch a search and rescue operation. Accordingly, naval personnel located the pilot, pulled him safely from the water, and brought him to the Port Control Tower Jetty.

The Navy remains on continuous alert to respond to incidents of this nature, faced by distressed maritime and fishing community within Sri Lanka’s Search and Rescue Region.