An incident at sea has led to the death of five Sri Lankan fishermen who ingested a mysterious liquid they found in bottles drifting in the ocean. The fatal event took place during a multi-day fishing expedition on the vessel Devon 5, which started on June 4, 2024, from Tangalle Fisheries Harbour. Mistakenly assuming the bottles held alcohol, the fishermen drank from them, causing immediate and fatal reactions in four of them.
The tragic event occurred roughly 320 nautical miles, approximately 370 miles, offshore of Sri Lanka. The remaining fishermen, critically ill, were moved onto the Singaporean merchant vessel MV Kota Camil for immediate medical attention, as conveyed by navy spokesperson Gayan Wickramasuriya.
In response to the crisis, the Sri Lankan Navy launched a swift rescue operation. They dispatched the navy ship, SLNS Vijayabahu, bearing a medical team to provide assistance and secure the safe return of the surviving fishermen. Gayan Wickramasuriya stated, “We are coordinating with the Singaporean vessel to transfer the critically ill fisherman to our ship at sea.” The fifth fisherman passed away on Sunday, June 30.
The Sri Lankan Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director General, Susantha Kahawatte, revealed that some of the bottles were distributed to other nearby fishing trawlers before the danger was recognized. Efforts were underway to alert these vessels to avert further fatalities.
The incident sparked protests among the Tangalle fishing community, who demanded the swift return of the surviving fishermen to shore. Protestors obstructed the main road between Tangalle and Matara in Pallikkudawa, leading to significant traffic disruptions.
This unfortunate event underscores the perilous conditions faced by fishermen and the importance of caution when encountering unidentifiable items at sea. Authorities are now conducting an investigation to identify the contents of the bottles to establish the precise cause of the poisoning.