The two fishermen aboard the vessel ‘Somiresa’ (IDAY-A-0122 KMN), who went missing at sea after departing from the Devundara Fishery Harbour in Matara on June 19, have been found safe in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ratna Gamage, has made a special intervention to expedite their repatriation to Sri Lanka.

The 32-foot fishing vessel developed a technical fault while at sea. Although one of the fishermen on board managed to return to shore aboard another vessel, the owner of the vessel, Mr.S. H. Chaminda, and his son, S. H. Piyasena, remained stranded aboard Somiresa. The Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force conducted several days of search operations to locate them. However, the vessel did not have a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) or an HF radio capable of maintaining communication with the shore.

Following an assessment by the Department of Fisheries indicating that the prevailing sea currents could have carried the vessel into the waters of a neighboring country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Sri Lankan embassies in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Maldives.It was subsequently confirmed that the vessel had drifted into Bangladeshi waters and that the two fishermen are currently in the custody of the Bangladeshi police.

Deputy Minister Ratna Gamage, who paid close attention to the concerns of the fishing community in the Southern Province, responded promptly to requests made by the fishermen’s family members and local residents. He instructed the Director General of Fisheries, Susantha Kahawatte, to immediately take all necessary steps to facilitate their safe return to Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangladesh has already initiated arrangements to secure the required air tickets and complete the necessary legal documentation. Although Friday and Saturday are official holidays in Bangladesh, the Embassy has agreed to make a special intervention on Friday (24) to expedite the preparation of the relevant documents.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources expressed confidence that, with the Deputy Minister’s direct intervention and the support of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangladesh, the two fishermen will be safely repatriated to Sri Lanka within the next few days.