A formal complaint has been submitted to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) following the brutal assault of three Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy personnel in civilian clothing in the coastal village of Kallaru, located in Tharmapuram, Kilinochchi.
The incident occurred on 21 May 2025, when two fishermen had gone to Peypaarai Patti for fishing. According to the complaint, the men were confronted by a group of more than ten individuals dressed in civilian attire, who identified themselves as members of the Sri Lankan Navy. The confrontation quickly escalated after one fisherman was accused of transporting kassippu (illicit alcohol). The man denied the accusation, stating that he was only carrying water, but he was nevertheless violently beaten with rifle butts.
The President of the Kilinochchi Kallaaru Fishermen’s Society, Anton Robin, arrived at the scene after hearing of the assault. When he questioned the Navy personnel and urged them to follow proper legal procedures, he was also attacked. Robin began filming the encounter, at which point Navy members reportedly turned on him as well. In total, three Tamil fishermen sustained injuries, with one requiring hospitalisation.
The victims were initially taken to Dharmapuram Hospital, but due to the severity of the injuries, one was later transferred to Kilinochchi District General Hospital for further treatment.
Despite the violent nature of the attack, attempts to lodge a formal complaint at the Dharmapuram Police Station were unsuccessful. The police allegedly refused to record the case, prompting Anton Robin to escalate the matter to the Jaffna Regional Office of the Human Rights Commission.
Robin filed the complaint on 26 May, stating not only the physical abuse suffered by the fishermen but also the subsequent intimidation by Navy and intelligence personnel. According to the complaint, the officers warned the victims not to speak out, reportedly threatening, “If you talk about this, we’ll deal with you”.
This latest assault comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Sri Lankan military’s continued occupation and interference in civilian life across the Tamil homeland, particularly in coastal regions where Tamil fishermen face constant harassment and surveillance.
As of now, no action has been taken against the perpetrators, and the Human Rights Commission has yet to issue a public response.
