Navy brings ashore 25 Indonesian fishermen distressed in Australia’s Search and Rescue Region

The Sri Lanka Navy brought 25 distressed Indonesian fishermen safely to Colombo port this evening, 24 September 2026, following a multi-agency operation.

Reportedly, the crew members were aboard the Indonesian fishing trawler KM Garuda Jaya VI, which capsized on 22 September south of Sri Lanka. The incident occurred within the Australian Search and Rescue Region, where the crew members were initially reported distressed.

Meanwhile, the merchant vessel MV Moonstone rescued 25 survivors from the water and alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo. Responding to the call for distress, the Sri Lanka Navy, through the coordination of MRCC Colombo, dispatched 2 craft to bring ashore the fishermen rescued by MV Moonstone.

Accordingly, the Navy safely transferred the survivors (25) to the Colombo port, provided humanitarian assistance, and handed over them to the Indonesian Embassy in Sri Lanka for onward action