The Sri Lanka Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from a sinking naval ship off the southern coast, while also recovering several bodies. The incident occurred outside Sri Lankan waters but within its search and rescue zone.
Sri Lanka is deliberating appropriate action after a second Iranian ship sought entry to its territorial waters, following an attack on an Iranian frigate near the island nation. The government is focused on safeguarding lives and regional peace.
Sri Lanka has allowed a second Iranian ship, IRINS Bushehr, to dock at Trincomalee port after it reported engine failure, following the sinking of an Iranian frigate. The move comes amidst heightened regional tensions and a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran.
The vessel sank on March 4, 2026, approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle, after reportedly being struck by a torpedo from a United States submarine.
Amidst escalating regional tensions, Sri Lanka is carefully considering its response after a second Iranian ship requested entry into its waters following a reported US submarine attack on an Iranian frigate near Galle.
The US torpedo attack on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters was a lawful act of war between belligerents, not a diplomatic or strategic embarrassment for India, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
At least 101 people are missing and 78 are injured after a suspected submarine attack on an Iranian naval ship off Sri Lanka's southern coast on Wednesday, Reuters quoted sources in Sri Lanka's Navy and defence ministry as saying.
'India was not obliged to protect the Iranian ship.' 'Once the Iranian ship left Indian waters, she was on her own.' 'Guilt tripping India is wrong.'
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 Indian fishermen and seized five fishing boats for allegedly venturing into the island nation's territorial waters. This incident is the latest in a series of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy for alleged illegal fishing activities. The issue of fishermen is a contentious one in the relationship between India and Sri Lanka, with past incidents involving firing at fishermen and seizures of boats. This latest incident follows an earlier arrest of 10 Indian fishermen earlier this month and an incident in January where five Indian fishermen were injured after the Sri Lankan Navy fired on them. India has expressed its displeasure regarding the use of force by Sri Lanka.
Five Indian fishermen were injured, two seriously, in an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy near Delft Island, prompting India to summon the acting high commissioner of Sri Lanka and lodge a strong protest. The incident occurred during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen, with three others sustaining minor injuries. The Indian Consulate in Jaffna is providing assistance to the fishermen and their families.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) authorizes actor Vijay to decide on alliances for the upcoming Assembly elections and announces him as their Chief Ministerial candidate.
Actor-politician Vijay held his first public meeting in Puducherry, criticising the central government for neglecting the union territory's demand for statehood and praising the local government's impartiality. He also targeted the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, suggesting they could learn from Puducherry.
They were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy with assistance from the coastal guard officials, Sri Lankan officials said.
Fifteen fishermen, who put to sea from in Rameswaram, were on Monday attacked allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy when they were fishing near Dhanuskodi, fisheries department sources said.
Redif.com's A Ganesh Nadar travelled to Rameswaram to meet fishermen harrowed by the Sri Lankan navy, which has been resorting to stone pelting to drive them away from what it claims as its territory
The fishermen were charged with poaching fish in their territorial waters using the banned fishing net, he added.
Sri Lanka has released 14 Indian fishermen as a special gesture, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for resolving the issue with a "humane approach." The fishermen issue figured prominently during talks between Prime Minister Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday. The fishermen issue is a contentious matter in India-Sri Lanka ties, with several alleged incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel using force against Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait. Modi stressed the need for a humane approach and the immediate release of the fishermen and their boats.
Tension prevailed in Rameswaram when Ramu's body was brought ashore.
The development came as the local fishermen in the North have been protesting for over a week to stop the Indians from entering the Sri Lankan waters for fishing.
The Sri Lankan navy on Monday arrested 18 Indian fishermen while fishing between Katchativu and Dhanushkodi. The fishermen from Pamban near Rameswaram were arrested along with their three country boats for allegedly fishing in that country's territorial water, sources said.
The fishermen along with their two mechanised boats had been taken to Kankesanthurai Port in northern Sri Lanka.
Fifty fishermen from Nagapattinam and Karaikal have been arrested by the Sri Lankan
Fishermen from Rameswaram were attacked near the international maritime boundary line, allegedly by Sri Lankan navalmen who threw stones at their boats damaging about 50 of them, officials said on Tuesday.
In the second such incident in over two weeks, five fishermen from Rameswaram were on Thursday taken into custody by Sri Lankan naval force personnel when they were fishing near Katchatheevu, officials said. Fisheries department officials said the Lankan navy chased fishermen and rounded up three boats. Fishermen in two boats managed to escape but five fishermen in the third boat were taken into custody. The Lankan navy also seized their boat and took the fishermen to SL.
An Indian fisherman was killed and another seriously injured when the Sri Lankan Navy opened fire on the boat carrying them, TV channels reported on Thursday.The Lankan Navy claimed that the fishermen were trespassing, said the reports.
The issue of fishermen continues to be thorny in the relations across the Palk Straits as the Sri Lankan Navy is often accused of harassing the Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The Sri Lankan Navy has taken into custody 23 Indian fishermen hailing from Mandapam and Rameswaram areas when they were fishing in mid sea. Assistant Director of Fisheries Markandeyan said that the reason for the detainment, which took place around 11 pm on Monday night, was not known. The Sri Lankan Navy has also taken their five boats into custody. Authorities came to know about the incident from a fisherman who managed to escape with his boat from the Lankan naval men.
With this, the number of fishermen arrested for allegedly fishing in Lankan territorial waters have gone up to 44 since July 3.
Nineteen fishermen, who ventured into the sea from Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu, were on Thursday arrested by the Sri Lankan navy when they went for fishing in the Palk Strait, officials said.
At least 25 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly poaching in the country's waters. Sri Lankan navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said that the fishermen were arrested on Friday night off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffma penisula for violating Sri Lanka's international maritime boundary.
Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly attacked some fishing boats and arrested 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen when they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits on Sunday, said officials of the fisheries department.
The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday allegedly took away forcibly the catch netted by fishermen who put to sea from Rameswaram, when they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits, fisheries department officials said.
With the latest arrest, the number of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lankan custody has risen to 61.
Nine fishermen from Tamil Nadu had been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan navy on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday denied reports that the Sri Lankan navy had allegedly attacked fishermen belonging to the state on Sunday.
While the nation deliberates on how it deserves a seat in the United Nations' Security Council and flexes its nuclear muscle against China, an island nation is dictating where Indian fishermen can fish and shoots them at will. While Bensegar and 61 others were undergoing an ordeal, Indian Defence Minister A K Antony was giving a lecture on 'Terrorism from the sea' in New Delhi.
According to the Fisheries Department officials, Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrived in intercepter boats and opened fire on Monday night. They completely damaged one boat, beat up the fishermen and took away the fish and nets.
Sri Lankan naval personnel on Sunday allegedly attacked some fishermen from Rameswaram and prevented them from fishing near the International Maritime Boundary line, officials said. The Lankan personnel asked them to stop fishing and go back at gun point, officials said. They also snatched the fishermen's GPS equipment and fishing nets.
The protesting fishermen have refused to accept the body of the fisherman unless a central minister visits the island and gives them an assurance that such incidents would not happen again, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President S Emiret said.
In yet another incident over a week, a fisherman was injured on Tuesday when Sri Lankan naval personnel allegedly attacked three fishing boats from Rameshwaram in the Palk straits, officials said.
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