The Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force have launched a joint search and rescue operation after several fishing boats met with an accident in the sea off Negombo, leaving multiple fishermen missing.
The incident came to light yesterday afternoon (July 31) after another fishing vessel alerted authorities that a dinghy carrying a group of fishermen had encountered difficulties at sea.
Subsequent search operations revealed that three additional fishing boats, which had also left for fishing, were missing.
Authorities have so far recovered the body of one fisherman, which was washed ashore along the Negombo coastline. Two other fishermen who were aboard the same vessel remain missing.
The Sri Lanka Navy has deployed a Fast Attack Craft (Dvora-class patrol vessel) along with a specialized diving team to continue the search for the missing fishermen.
The Sri Lanka Air Force has also joined the operation by deploying a Bell 412 helicopter to assist in the ongoing search and rescue mission.
Search efforts are continuing as authorities work to locate the remaining missing fishermen.
