In brief
The navy and air force are conducting a search for seven fishermen who vanished in two separate incidents, one off Matara and the other off Mullaitivu. Strong winds and rough seas, linked to a Bay of Bengal cyclone, hamper the effort. The Department of Meteorology has warned fishermen to suspend activities in the affected waters.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's Navy and Air Force began a joint search for seven fishermen who vanished in two separate incidents off the southern and northeastern coasts of the country.
One incident involved a four‑man fishing vessel that departed Kudawella in the Matara district on October 21. The crew last communicated with the vessel’s owner on October 23. After that contact was lost, the owner notified the Navy, prompting a search operation the following day that included aircraft from the Air Force.
The second incident concerns a three‑man crew who left Puthumathalan in the Mullaitivu district. The departure date is not specified, but the vessel remains unlocated and the Navy continues to look for it.
Both operations are being carried out amid adverse weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal. The Department of Meteorology warned of strong winds, rough seas and heavy thundershowers linked to a cyclone currently swirling over the region.
In response, the meteorology department advised all fishermen and naval vessels to avoid activities in the affected sea areas until further notice and urged those already at sea to seek safer waters. The Navy said it is working to locate both vessels and their crews.
“All available aircraft and sea units are being deployed to locate the missing crew,” the Navy spokesperson said.
All available aircraft and sea units are being deployed to locate the missing crew.
The National Navy said the search covers an extended area between the southern Matara district and the northeastern Mullaitivu district; however, the precise coordinates of the missing vessels remain unknown.
The Department of Meteorology has issued warnings to fishermen and maritime crews operating in the Bay of Bengal, urging them to avoid routine fishing to reduce the risk of further incidents until the cyclone’s effects diminish.
