Father, daughter presumed dead after boat capsizes in Negombo Lagoon

A father and daughter have been reported missing, and are presumed dead, after a small fishing boat capsized in the Negombo Lagoon yesterday (24), according to the Negombo Police. The incident occurred near Siriwardhanapura, leaving the two missing, while five others, including a Catholic priest, managed to survive.

The missing individuals were identified as Ranil Fernando (45) and his daughter Nethmi Fernando (19), residents of Munnakkarai, Negombo.

The family, along with friends, had embarked on the small fishing boat, known locally as an ‘issan boat’, from near their residence, at around 12:45 pm. The boat capsized a short while later.

According to police reports, the group on the boat included three men and four women from one family, accompanied by a Catholic priest who had arrived from abroad. Despite rescue efforts by nearby boat operators, the father and daughter were unable to be found and are presumed to have drowned. Two others from the boat, in critical condition, were admitted to the Negombo General Hospital.

A search operation, led by Chief Inspector Dinesh Thalwatta of the Negombo Headquarters Police, is underway with the assistance of local fishing boats to locate the bodies of the father and daughter.

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