Six Sri Lankan fishermen who were detained in Bangladesh for eight months for illegally entering the country’s territorial waters have been released and are scheduled to return to the island tomorrow (April 2).
The fishermen who had set sail on the multi-day fishing vessel Sudu Duwa 4 (IMULA 0138 PTM) on July 16, 2025, were arrested by the Bangladesh Navy for violating maritime boundaries. They were subsequently held at Chittagong Central Jail and legal proceedings were initiated against them.
The detained fishermen are:
• D. A. H. Lasantha (27)
• W. T. D. Amit Kumara (40)
• R. Vijaya Kumara (58)
• K. Sunil Marcus Fernando (46)
• R. M. Leslie (38)
• M. S. Fernando (23)
Their families had endured significant hardship during the eight-month detention period and the family members who met with Puttalam District Parliamentarian Ajith Gihan requested the immediate release of these fishermen. Accordingly, diplomatic efforts were undertaken by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through coordinated diplomatic engagement, including intervention by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangladesh, the release of the fishermen was secured.
The group was released from prison on March 31 and transported to Dhaka International Airport on April 1. They are expected to arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow (April 2), under the coordination of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
