Trincomalee: An investigation has been launched following the discovery of a drone floating in the sea near Trincomalee by local fishermen on December 26, according to Air Force Media Spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage, speaking to the BBC Sinhala Service.
The drone was retrieved by fishermen from the Samudragama fishing village after being spotted approximately 36 kilometers offshore. It was subsequently brought ashore and reported to the police, who handed it over to the Air Force for further examination.
Fishermen Recount Discovery
The fishermen who found the drone shared their experience.
“We had gone out to fish early in the morning from the pier behind the Trincomalee Fish Market,” one of the fishermen recounted. “We first noticed it while fishing around 36 kilometers from the mainland. It had fish swimming around it, so we continued fishing until evening. Before returning to shore, we decided to haul it onto the boat.”
After bringing the drone ashore, the fishermen alerted the police. “The police advised us not to catch anything further and informed us that the Navy and Air Force would inspect it. Later, officials arrived, examined the drone, and took it away,” the fisherman added.
Air Force Confirms Drone’s Purpose
Preliminary investigations by the Sri Lanka Air Force suggest that the drone is a “target drone” likely used for military training.
“This type of drone is commonly used in training exercises to simulate targets in flight,” Group Captain Eranda Geeganage explained. “It is not a type used in Sri Lanka, and we suspect it originated from India. Similar drones have been found in Sri Lankan waters in the past, including an incident in 2020, which was confirmed to involve the Indian Air Force.”
Reassuring the public, the Air Force spokesperson added, “Based on initial assessments, there is no cause for concern, and there are no indications of explosives onboard. A specialized team from the Air Force is currently investigating the matter further.”
The incident has drawn attention to the presence of foreign military equipment in Sri Lankan waters, prompting heightened security measures and inter-agency coordination.
