The Ministry of External Affairs has protested to Sri Lanka after its navy opened fire on Indian fishermen near Delft Island in the Palk Strait early Tuesday (January 28, 2025), leaving two seriously injured and three others with minor wounds.
The incident occurred during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen. The two critically injured fishermen are receiving treatment at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, where Indian consulate officials visited them to provide assistance.
The MEA summoned Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi to lodge a formal protest. The Indian High Commission in Colombo also raised the issue with Sri Lankan authorities.
“The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever,” the ministry stated, emphasising that fishermen’s issues should be handled humanely considering their livelihood concerns.
The ministry called for strict observance of existing bilateral agreements regarding fishing activities in the region.
