India rejects allegation of assault on Sri Lankan fishermen at Sea

The Indian High Commission on Thursday denied Sri Lanka’s allegation that the Indian Coast Guard attacked a group of Sri Lankan fishermen at sea on January 29, 2026.

In a statement responding to media reports, the High Commission said it had verified the matter with Indian authorities and found no evidence of any assault by Indian Navy or Indian Coast Guard personnel .

It reiterated that India follows a humanitarian approach toward fishermen’s livelihood concerns and does not resort to the use of force.

Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekeran said on February 2 that a formal protest would be lodged with the Indian government , and that the Indian High Commission in Colombo had already been informed of the incident.

According to Sri Lankan authorities, three trawlers carrying 12 fishermen had departed from the Wellamankaraya fishing harbour in Wennappuva on the country’s northwestern coast when they were allegedly attacked at sea.

Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Buddika Sampath said naval vessels rescued the injured fishermen. One vessel brought ashore four fishermen who were seriously injured, while another was sent to retrieve six more injured fishermen.

Tyronne Mendis, an official of the fishermen’s association, claimed that two of the three trawlers were within Sri Lankan territorial waters at the time of the alleged attack.

He added that the Sri Lankan Navy was unable to prevent the incident.

The incident has renewed tensions over fishing rights and maritime boundaries between India and Sri Lanka , particularly in the Palk Strait region, where disputes involving fishermen have periodically strained bilateral relations.