Residents of Kuchchaveli in Trincomalee staged a protest today, condemning the Sri Lankan Navy’s shooting of a young Tamil fisherman during a naval operation off the north-eastern coast.
The demonstration, followed the shooting by Sri Lankan naval personnel last night. The incident, which unfolded during a so-called anti-poaching operation at sea, left a 23-year-old fisherman from Jayanagar critically injured after being shot by the Navy. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Trincomalee General Hospital.
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According to reports, the confrontation involved eleven fishing vessels.
The Navy has since launched an internal investigation, but locals say the shooting reflects a broader pattern of violence and impunity.
Protesters in Kuchchaveli denounced the attack as brutal and unjustified. Holding placards that read “We are not terrorists, we are fishermen,” and “Do not impose draconian laws on ordinary people,” demonstrators voiced anger over the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians.
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The coastal region of Trincomalee remains heavily occupied and militarised more than 16 years after the end of the armed conflict. Tamil fishing communities in the area have repeatedly accused the Navy of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and violence, particularly under the pretext of enforcing fishing regulations.
