According to police, the fishermen had departed from the Point Pedro and Karainagar (Kovalam) areas in two separate fishing boats at around 11.00 p.m. on May 27. Concern arose after the fishermen failed to return to shore as scheduled.
Authorities believe the vessels may have been caught in strong winds and rough sea conditions prevailing in the region, preventing them from navigating back safely. Local fishing communities have since been conducting continuous search efforts to trace the missing fishermen.
Following notification of the incident, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar contacted the Deputy Director General of the Disaster Management Centre and directed officials to expedite rescue measures. A coordinated search operation involving the Sri Lanka Air Force was launched early this morning.
Authorities are utilizing advanced maritime monitoring technology and surveillance systems to expand the search across Sri Lankan waters. Information relating to the missing fishermen and their vessels has also been shared with maritime security agencies in neighboring countries to support international search efforts.
Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar has urged the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and all relevant state agencies to deploy every available resource to ensure the safe return of the missing fishermen.
