Indian fisherman on poaching vessel tests COVID-19 positive

An Indian fisherman among nine others who were taken into custody while engaged in illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters, tested positive with Covid-19, the Navy said.

During a special operation in northern seas on January 9, the Sri Lanka Navy apprehended nine Indian fishermen along with their trawler for poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

Subsequently they were directed to serve 14-day quarantine.

On completion of their quarantine on January 22, the Indian fishermen were subjected to a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test before handing them over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) authorities for necessary legal action, where one Indian fisherman had been found positive with COVID-19.

Upon the instruction of the Regional Epidemiologist, Jaffna, the Indian fisherman who contracted the virus was taken to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kilinochchi for further treatment. 

Meanwhile, the remaining eight Indian fishermen were directed to undergo quarantine again for another 14 days.