The Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) denies allegations reported in the media about its involvement in a firing incident on the night of 2nd June 2008 in which a fisherman from Tamil Nadu died, said a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai.

“When these reports were brought to the attention of the Naval authorities in Sri Lanka, they conducted a thorough investigation. Its outcome has established that there is no involvement of the Sri Lanka Navy in the alleged incident,” said the release.

The release further said: “It may be recalled that the Sri Lanka Navy has been acknowledged by Tamil Nadu fishermen on several occasions for rendering humanitarian assistance at times of distress at sea. However, it is also a reality that those with vested interests and sinister motives may have attempted to tarnish the positive image of the Sri Lanka Navy among Tamil Nadu fishermen. For its part, the Sri Lanka Navy follows a strict practice of treating Indian fishermen including those detected in Sri Lankan waters, in a humanitarian manner”