An Indian fishing trawler has sunk after allegedly colliding with a Sri Lankan Navy vessel that was driving out poachers from Sri Lankan waters.
The incident has taken place on Monday night and rescuers are still searching for one of the trawler’s missing crew members, the Navy said.
Two other fishermen from the boat have been rescued.
“The search and rescue operation is being augmented by a team of navy divers, fast attack craft and inshore patrol craft,” the Navy added.
Sri Lankan fishermen and Northern political parties have started a protest urging authorities to block Indian fishing boats from the Northern waters and end bottom trawling. There have been increasing tensions over poaching by Indian vessels. Sri Lanka regularly detains Indian fishermen and seizes their boats to deter poaching.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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