Fisherman killed in mid sea clash

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

A fisherman was killed and two others had jumped overboard for their lives when a clash broke out on a deep sea trawler off the shores of Nilwella in Dikwella on Friday.

The 49-year-old victim identified as Abeysuriya Patabendige Sarath was beaten to death with a wooden bar by one of the four members of the boat. Two other fishermen who were also injured in the attack and jumped into the sea were later rescued by another boat.

They are being treated at the Batheegama Hospital in Dikwella.

The body of the deceased is lying at the Matara Hospital Morgue pending the postmortem, the police said.

The suspect had not been apprehended at the time this edition went to press. Dikwella police are conducting investigations.