Tamil fishermen’s boat sinks after alleged collision with Sri Lankan Navy

A boat belonging to Tamil fishermen sank after reportedly being rammed by a Sri Lankan Navy vessel while fishing in the South-East of Kodiyakkarai on Tuesday. The incident has left several fishermen injured.
The fishermen, identified as Shaktivel, Devaraj, Karthikeyan, and Satish from Cheruthur, had embarked on their fishing trip in a boat owned by Dharman. The collision occurred as they were working in the area. The Sri Lankan Navy ship, which was on patrol, allegedly rammed into their boat, causing it to sink.
Following the incident, the injured fishermen were reportedly questioned for nearly six hours by Sri Lankan Navy officers before receiving any medical treatment. The fishermen were eventually handed over to other local fishermen who arrived at the scene, and the Sri Lankan Navy vessel departed.
With the assistance of other fishermen, the sunk boat was recovered and the injured were brought to shore, where they were admitted to a District Hospital. Visuals of the overturned boat and a fisherman sitting on top of it have gone viral on social media.

The fishermen have reported a financial loss of approximately Rs 6.5 lakh due to the damage or loss of electronic equipment, including GPS devices and fishing nets.
Former AIADMK Minister Jayakumar took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam the state government, stating, “Unlike in the last ten years, Sri Lankan Navy has arrested a lot of fishermen in 2024. It has become a continuing struggle for fishermen mid-sea.” He called attention to the increasing difficulties faced by Tamil fishermen in the region.