Sri Lanka Navy rescues 11 Indian fishermen after trawler accident off Delft

Colombo,UPDATED: Aug 6, 2026 18:18 IST

Eleven Indian fishermen were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday after their fishing vessel met with an accident in Sri Lankan waters, according to an official statement. All 11 were brought ashore at Delft Island after the rescue operation.

The incident comes a day after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a day-long visit to Colombo, raised issues related to fishermen with Sri Lankan leaders and sought the island nation's cooperation for the early release of detained fishermen and boats. The matter remains a sensitive issue in India-Sri Lanka ties.

The accident took place on a coastal reef off Delft Island, also known as Neduntheevu, in the Palk Strait off northern Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the trawler had crossed the Maritime Boundary Line into Sri Lankan waters late on Wednesday and was allegedly engaged in bottom trawling before it ran aground.

Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said the Indian vessel was involved in illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters when it met with the accident. In its statement, the navy said the activities concerning the rescued fishermen were being jointly handled with officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. "Due to the impact of grounding on the reef, the trawler has sustained partial structural damage," the statement said.

The fishermen issue has long been a contentious one between India and Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lankan Navy seizing boats and, in several alleged incidents, firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait over claims of illegal entry into Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Palk Strait, which separates Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground, and fishermen from both sides are frequently arrested for inadvertently crossing into each other's waters.

In sum, the Sri Lanka Navy rescued 11 Indian fishermen after their trawler ran aground off Delft Island, while officials continued to handle the matter amid the broader and continuing dispute over fishing in the Palk Strait.

With PTI Inputs

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