Four Sri Lankan fishermen die after drinking from bottles found at sea
Four Sri Lankan fishermen have perished, and two more are in a grave state after consuming a mysterious liquid they discovered in bottles at sea, mistakenly believing it to be alcohol.
The discovery occurred some 320 nautical miles off the coast of Tangalle, a southern Sri Lankan town. In response, the Sri Lanka Navy has been providing medical care to the survivors aboard their vessel, the Devon, due to the critical time constraints in reaching land for advanced treatment.
Susantha Kahawatte, the Director General of the Sri Lankan Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has confirmed the navy's efforts to transport the severely affected fishermen ashore. Given the critical nature of their condition, immediate medical treatment has been administered on board.
This incident has ignited demonstrations in Tangalle, roughly 120 miles from the capital city of Colombo, with the community insisting on the swift repatriation of the ailing sailors for adequate medical attention. The event has also led to an inquiry into the substance within the bottles.
