Navy comes to the rescue of fisherman in distress off Pothuvil

The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman who had gone missing at sea during a search and rescue operation conducted approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil on 17 July 2026.

The individual had been reported missing in the sea area off Arugam Bay since the evening of 16 July. Following an alert from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo, the Navy immediately launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation.

In response, the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu, which was on routine deployment, was diverted to the southeastern waters off Pothuvil and Arugam Bay to conduct an extensive search.

Despite extremely rough sea conditions that hampered search efforts, SLNS Vijayabahu located the man drifting about 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. Using the ship's Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), the crew then launched a challenging rescue operation amid adverse weather and rough seas, successfully recovering the person.

Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.

Reportedly, his dinghy had drifted offshore after its outboard motor suffered a mechanical failure, leaving him stranded at sea.

Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island's Search and Rescue Region (SRR).