Boat Capsizes While Carrying Devotees; Two Dead

07-Mar-2026

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A boat carrying devotees from Jaffna to the Palaitivu festival capsized on the morning of March 6 in the lagoon, resulting in two fatalities. Eleven others were rescued and are receiving treatment at the Jaffna Pothana Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as M. Joseph, 80, and the boat operator Francis Stephen, 57. The St. Anthony’s Church festival in Palaitivu is scheduled for the morning of March 7. The boat had departed on March 6 from the Kurunagar ferry point, carrying approximately 25 devotees.

As the boat operator went to the engine room to start the engine, the vessel began moving. Some passengers moved to the far end of the boat, causing it to capsize unevenly into the water. Many fell into the lagoon but were rescued by local fishermen and transported to Jaffna teaching Hospital by ambulance. 

The boat operator was found deceased in the engine room. Rescue operations continued with the help of fishermen and naval personnel to save others who had fallen into the water.

Reports indicate that the same boat had transported devotees to Palaitivu early in the morning and that this incident occurred during its second trip carrying passengers.

At the time of the accident, devotees prepared to travel to Palaitivu were prevented from doing so. Later in the afternoon, under police supervision and with safety measures in place, 15 people were allowed to travel in a large boat and 10 in a smaller boat. Police and naval authorities are investigating the incident.