July 02, Colombo: Twenty fishermen who sailed for deep sea fishing from the fishing harbors in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka are reported missing.

The fishermen have sailed in multi-day fishing crafts from Gandara, Kottegoda, Dikwella and Devundara fishing harbors and are incommunicado for several days, the relatives say.

Meanwhile sources said that the Fisheries Signal Room in Matara has received signals to suspect that the fishermen are in the custody of the Indian authorities.

A Ministry of Fisheries official said that the government is trying to trace the whereabouts of the fishermen through diplomatic channels.