Fishermen in Point Pedro, Jaffna have accused Sri Lanka's government of neglecting search efforts for four Tamil fishermen who went missing at sea, while alleging that claims made by Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar regarding naval and aerial search operations are false.
The four fishermen disappeared after setting out to sea from the coastal areas of Munai and Karkovalam in the Vadamarachchi region on Wednesday(27) night. Despite two days of intensive searches carried out by fellow fishermen, no trace of the missing men has been found.
The case has sparked anger among local fishing communities, who say authorities failed to act promptly despite repeated appeals for assistance.
The controversy intensified after Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar issued a statement claiming that vessels belonging to the Sri Lankan Navy and Airforce had been deployed in search operations. However, fishermen directly involved in the search have publicly rejected those claims, insisting that no such assistance was provided.
"We spent two days searching large sections of the sea using dozens of fishing boats. Apart from us, nobody came," one fisherman involved in the operation said. Local search teams reported travelling as far as 34 nautical miles offshore, including areas close to the maritime boundary with India.
According to those involved in the search effort, a small number of Sri Lankan naval vessels were observed around 10 nautical miles away from the coast, but they were allegedly engaged in inspecting fishing boats rather than searching for the missing fishermen. Search teams further stated that no helicopter was seen in the area at any stage of the operation.
Fishermen accused authorities of attempting to mislead the public about the scale of the government's response, arguing that if naval vessels and aircraft had genuinely been deployed over the search zone, local fishermen would have been aware of their presence.
They also criticised the Fisheries Minister for failing to intervene earlier and mobilise state resources immediately after the fishermen were reported missing, arguing that crucial time had been lost during the initial stages of the search.
A second day of search operations concluded on Friday without any breakthrough. Twenty-four fishing boats, accompanied by deep-sea divers using oxygen cylinders, participated in the effort amid rough seas and strong currents.
Search teams reported discovering submerged fishing nets in two locations but were unable to recover them. No evidence linked to the missing fishermen was found.
With adverse sea conditions continuing and no sign of the missing men, fishermen expressed growing fears that the chances of finding them alive are diminishing. The prolonged uncertainty has left family members and relatives increasingly distressed as they await news of their loved ones.