India summons Sri Lankan Acting HC over death of Indian fisherman

The Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi was called on Thursday morning to the Ministry of External Affairs and a strong protest was registered over the death of an Indian fisherman, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.The statement said that a collision was reported earlier the same day between a Sri Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat 5 nautical miles north of Katchatheevu Island. Out of the four Indian fishermen who were on board the vessel, one died, another is missing, while two of the fishermen have been rescued and brought ashore to Kankesanthurai.

Press Statement on an incident involving loss of life of an Indian fisherman:https://t.co/3qOZJ8zLSL pic.twitter.com/o5Q8XGmm5L

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 1, 2024

Officials of the Indian consulate in Jaffna were directed to go to Kankesanthurai and extend all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families.The Indian government attaches the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian fishermen, and issues related to them have been raised regularly at the highest levels with the Sri Lankan leadership. Dozens of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen are arrested by the two countries each year on charges of violating the maritime boundary or illegal fishing.