Navy brings ashore 4 stranded Kudawella fishermen at sea

The Sri Lanka Navy rescued 4 fishermen who were stranded on the high seas off the coast of Pottuvil, following a multi-agency search and rescue operation.

The fishermen left Kudawella fisheries harbour on 21 October 2026 and failed to return on schedule. Acting on an alert from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Navy launched a coordinated rescue effort involving the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, the Sri Lanka Air Force and local fishing boats operating in the sea area.

The Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Sindurala located the missing trawler ‘Heshaka Putha’ (IMUL-A-0658-KLT) and its 4 crew members unharm on 1 November, approximately 200 nautical miles off the Pottuvil coast.The operation was coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo, keeping involved parties duly informed.

The coordinated operation by the Navy and other parties has led to the successful rescue of fishermen and they are being brought back to shore aboard SLNS Sindurala.