Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, January 30 (Daily Mirror) – While defending the legality of the Sri Lanka Navy’s conduct amid strong protests with Sri Lanka over an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Rtd) Sampath Thuyacontha said that Sri Lanka will continue to search vessels entering its waters, regardless of their country of origin, in accordance with legal protocols to prevent illegal activities.

He made these remarks after India lodged a strong protest on Tuesday following an incident in which the Sri Lankan Navy opened fire during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen near Delft Island in the early hours of January 28.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said Sri Lanka’s acting High Commissioner was called into the foreign office to lodge the protest. Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.

In a media briefing, the Defence Secretary explained that the Sri Lankan Navy conducts round-the-clock operations to combat illegal trafficking, human smuggling, illegal fishing, drug smuggling, and weapons smuggling in Sri Lankan waters.

He said that these searches are carried out in a legal manner, and reiterated that there will be no confrontations if the respective parties allow Sri Lankan authorities to perform their duties.

He also pointed out that the Sri Lankan Navy had recently seized a significant drug haul during its continuous operations.

We have to search any vessel entering Sri Lankan waters, irrespective of the vessels country of origin. As a respected Navy, we are carrying out these searches legally. We can assure that there will be no confrontation if parties permit us to conduct our searches,” Thuyacontha said, stressing that such incidents have been rare in recent times.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy’s Commander said that initial investigations revealed the two Indian fishermen who were injured during the apprehension of a fishing boat near Kankesanthurai (KKS) were wounded by an accidental discharge of a Navy officer’s firearm. The Navy had launched a special operation on January 27 to disperse a group of Indian fishing boats caught poaching in Sri Lankan waters near Valvettithurai, Jaffna.

During the operation, the Navy seized an Indian fishing boat that had continued operating in Sri Lankan waters, engaging in illegal fishing.

The Commander explained that the Navy had attempted to board the vessel, but the Indian crew resisted and tried to assault naval personnel, even attempting to seize a firearm. In the process, an accidental shot was fired, resulting in minor injuries to two fishermen.

Following the incident, the Navy administered first aid to the injured fishermen and promptly transferred them to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

The Navy Commander reaffirmed that the Sri Lanka Navy will continue its regular operations to uphold the security of Sri Lankan waters, operating professionally and in accordance with existing regulations.

The Navy will also strengthen its efforts to prevent the use of Sri Lankan waters for illegal activities, the Commander assured.