Fisheries Minister orders probe into alleged shooting at fisherman in Trincomalee

Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran has ordered a comprehensive investigation into an alleged incident in which a fisherman was injured in a Navy shooting in the Kuchchaveli coastal area of Trincomalee.

According to reports, the shooting took place yesterday (03) when a group of fishermen were allegedly engaged in illegal fishing activities in the area. One individual sustained injuries during the incident, prompting concerns and calls for an official inquiry.

Minister Chandrasekaran has instructed the Sri Lanka Navy to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event and submit a report at the earliest. He stated that appropriate steps will be determined based on the findings of the investigation.

“Illegal fishing activities harm both the marine environment and the livelihoods of the majority of law-abiding fishermen,” the Minister said, commenting on the incident. “While it is essential to prevent such practices, the use of force must also be scrutinised. Illegal fishing is wrong, the shooting is wrong, and creating an environment that leads to such incidents is equally wrong.”

The Minister said that no final conclusions should be drawn until the investigation is completed and the full details are known.

Authorities have yet to release further information on the injured individual’s condition or the specific nature of the alleged illegal fishing activities.

This incident has once again highlighted tensions between regulatory enforcement and local fishing communities in coastal areas, where illegal practices such as dynamite fishing and unauthorised netting continue to pose challenges to marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management.