An unfortunate incident at sea claimed the lives of five Sri Lankan fishermen when they consumed an unknown liquid they found in bottles floating in the ocean. The incident took place during a multi-day fishing expedition aboard the Devon 5, which set off from the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour on June 4, 2024. The fishermen mistakenly thought the liquid in the bottles was alcohol and four of them died immediately after drinking it.
The tragic event unfolded nearly 320 nautical miles (around 370 miles) off the Sri Lankan coast. The remaining fishermen, critically ill, were moved to the Singaporean merchant vessel MV Kota Camil to receive urgent medical attention, as confirmed by navy spokesperson Gayan Wickramasuriya.
The Sri Lankan Navy promptly launched a rescue operation to help the affected fishermen. The navy vessel, SLNS Vijayabahu, was dispatched with a medical team to assist and ensure the safe return of the survivors. “We are coordinating with the Singaporean vessel to transfer the critically ill fisherman to our ship at sea,” expressed Mr. Wickramasuriya. The fifth fisherman passed away on June 30, Sunday.
The Director General of the Sri Lankan Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Susantha Kahawatte, revealed that before understanding the peril, the fishermen had shared some of the bottles with other nearby fishing trawlers. Efforts were underway to contact these ships to avert more tragedies.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Tangalle fishing community staged protests, demanding the immediate return of the surviving fisherman. Protesters blocked the main road between Tangalle and Matara in Pallikkudawa, leading to major traffic disruptions.
This unfortunate event underscores the risks faced by the fishermen and the importance of being cautious when dealing with unknown items found at sea. Authorities are now investigating the liquid found in the bottles to establish the exact cause of the poisoning.
