Five Indian fishermen were injured, including two seriously, in a firing incident involving the Sri Lankan Navy near Delft Island early Tuesday morning. The incident has triggered a strong diplomatic response from India, with New Delhi lodging a formal protest.
India’s Strong Reaction
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the acting high commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi to register a strong protest against the use of force. In a statement, India reiterated that the use of force is “not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever.”
The MEA confirmed the incident, stating, “An incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen near Delft Island was reported in the early hours of this morning.”
Out of the 13 fishermen aboard the vessel, two sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Three others sustained minor injuries and have been treated accordingly.
Indian Consulate officials in Jaffna visited the injured fishermen to assess their condition and are providing all necessary assistance to the fishermen and their families.
Diplomatic Engagements
“The Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi was summoned to the MEA this morning, and a strong protest was lodged over the incident,” the statement said.
Additionally, the Indian High Commission in Colombo has raised the issue with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. India emphasized the importance of addressing fishermen-related issues with a humanitarian approach, citing the livelihood challenges faced by fishing communities.
“The government of India has always stressed the need to handle such matters in a humane and humanitarian manner,” the MEA stated, adding, “The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances. Existing agreements between the two governments on this matter must be strictly adhered to.”
Sri Lanka Navy’s Statement
The Sri Lanka Navy offered a different account of the incident, alleging that the Indian fishermen had acted aggressively during the encounter.
In its statement, the Navy claimed, “The Sri Lanka Navy boarding team was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding as the Indian fishing boat continued to maneuver aggressively, disregarding lawful orders during the process of taking the boat into custody.”
The statement further alleged that the fishermen behaved confrontationally, attempting to assault naval personnel and even trying to snatch a firearm during the boarding process.
