In brief
The navy and air force dispatched search missions after two fishing boats—one with four crew off Matara and another with three crew off Mullaitivu—went missing. Strong winds and rough seas linked to a Bay of Bengal cyclone have hampered efforts, prompting authorities to warn fishermen to suspend sea activity.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's Navy and the Air Force announced that they had begun search operations for two missing fishing vessels, one carrying four crew members and the other three, from the southern and northeastern coasts of the country, according to a statement released in Colombo.
The first vessel, a four‑man boat that left Kudawella in Matara district on 21 October, last communicated with its owner on 23 October before the contact was lost; the owner reported it missing, prompting the navy to mobilise allied aircraft and ships to begin a search for the craft and its people.
In the second incident, a three‑man vessel departed from Puthumathalan in Mullaitivu district but has yet to be located; no specific date of departure was recorded in the northern operation’s brief, yet the navy’s report indicates that the search continues unabated.
The launch of the joint missions coincides with a severe weather warning issued by the Department of Meteorology, which cites strong winds, rough seas and heavy thunderstorms linked to a prevailing cyclonic system that is affecting the Bay of Bengal region and surrounding seas.
In light of the atmospheric conditions, the meteorology office has advised fishermen and naval vessels to suspend activities in the affected sea areas until further notice and has urged those already at sea to move toward safer waters, the statement added.
Because of the strong winds and rough seas, the navy’s air and sea assets have been directed to conduct surface and aerial sweeps along both the southern and northeastern coastal lines, with a particular focus on areas near the last known coordinates of each vessel, the report notes.
While the exact cause of the boats’ disappearance has not yet been determined, the search effort is underway even as meteorological factors make the ocean challenging for ships and aircraft alike, according to the government’s brief.
Officials have not yet provided details on the welfare of the missing fishermen, leaving the public uncertain whether the crews were rescued, had abandoned ship, or were harmed by the storm; the available information stops short of any conclusion, as the navy continues its operations.
As the search continues, questions about the safety of local fishermen, the adequacy of weather monitoring, and the capacity of the navy’s rescue resources remain open, with the authorities tasked with determining the cause and outcome of the two incidents, the official statement concludes.
