An Indian-registered fishing vessel ran aground near an island just off northern Sri Lanka on Wednesday, August 5.
Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said the unnamed vessel accidentally struck a reef off Delft Island as the area was experiencing adverse weather conditions on Wednesday night (local time).
Walakuluge added that the vessel sustained "partial structural damage" due to the impact and became stranded on the reef, though no one among the 11-strong crew suffered any serious injuries.
The Sri Lanka Navy said the stranded Indian fishermen were all safely rescued on Thursday, August 6. They have since been brought to Delft Island.
Walakuluge told local media that the Indian boat was engaged in illegal fishing on the Sri Lankan side of the international maritime boundary line between the two countries in the Palk Strait when it ran aground.
The strait, which lies between Tamil Nadu state and northern Sri Lanka, is frequented by fishing vessels from the two countries. Arrests of foreign fishermen over illegal border crossing and poaching allegations are therefore frequent on both sides of the strait.