An Indian fisherman went missing on Monday night after the boat he was in collided with a Sri Lankan Navy vessel near Neduntheevu, a statement from the navy confirmed, adding two fishermen, who were also in the boat, were rescued by them. The search for the third one is still on.  

“Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) managed to rescue two fishermen aboard a sunken Indian fishing boat poaching in Sri Lankan waters across the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) northwest of the Kovilan Lighthouse in the evening of October 18,” the statement said.

Indian fishermen from the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India often venture across the IMBL into Sri Lanka waters for fishing. The Sri Lankan Navy in recent weeks has intensified patrolling in their water to check transgression. 

On Monday, Tamil Nadu Police and coastal agencies have issued a warning to fishermen not to cross the IMBL over possible actions from Sri Lankan authorities. Tensions have been simmering between fishermen communities of two countries for the past few weeks. 

Last week, around two dozen fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka and their fishing vessels were also seized. 

On Sunday, hundreds of Sri Lankan fishermen, in a flotilla of around 100 fishing vessels, sailed from northern Sri Lankan district Mullaitivu to Point Pedro, protesting against Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in their waters. The usage of the bottom trawling by Indian fishermen, they alleged, was also harming their fishing nets.

The protracted dispute over fishing areas also stirs up politics, both in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu in India, and puts a strain on bilateral ties. 

In January this year, the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly shot dead four Indian fishermen, prompting strong reactions from the Indian government. From the Sri Lankan perspective, it is the responsibility of the Indian side to stop their fishermen from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.  

The issue has remained unresolved despite several rounds of talks between officials of the two countries. 

(SAM)