India Thursday expressing shock at the loss of lives of three fishermen in an encounter with Sri Lanka Navy in the Sri Lankan waters lodged their strong protest at the Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry.

“We are shocked at the unfortunate loss of lives of three Indian fishermen and one Sri Lankan national following a collision between their vessel and a Sri Lankan naval craft,” India’s External Affairs Ministry said in a statement released Thursday in New Delhi. 

“Our strong protest in regard to this incident was conveyed by our High Commissioner to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister today,” it said adding that a strong demarche was also made to the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Navy diving teams engaged in Search and Rescue (SAR) operation, have recovered bodies of two fishermen of an Indian fishing trawler which sank in Sri Lankan waters northwest of Delft Island following an encounter with the Navy.

The Navy launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation Monday night in search of the sunken fishing boat and its fishermen who were illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The Navy said the poaching fishing vessel in an attempt to evade from the SLN patrol collided with the Navy’s Fast Attack Craft with an aggressive manoeuver and sank having lost its stability. Colombo Page said.