Fisherman missing, two others rescued after vessel capsizes in rough seas

A fisherman is missing and two others have been admitted to hospital in serious condition after a fishing boat capsized off Hambantota Fisheries Harbour this morning (25).

The fishing boat had gone out to sea in bad weather without the permission of fisheries inspectors at the harbour. 

The fishing boat had left the Hambantota Fisheries Harbour in the early hours of this morning but had capsized in rough seas along the Kongala coast. Two fishermen in the boat were rescued but the other is listed as missing.

The navy and local fishermen have launched a search operation to recover the missing 23-year-old fishermen.

Assistant Director of the Hambantota Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Department L.G.T. Chandana said that though they had warned fishermen not to venture out to sea due to the prevailing adverse weather, several small fishing boats had put out to sea from the Hambantota Fisheries Harbour this morning. He lamented that fishermen were losing their lives because some were choosing to disregard instructions issued by authorities and also because they do not carry life jackets on board their vessels. 

Text and Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi