In a tragic incident, three crew members of a fishing vessel from Tangalle have died, and the remaining three are in critical condition after consuming the contents of a bottle they found floating in the sea, mistaking it for liquor.

The incident occurred approximately 320 nautical miles (592.64 km) off the coast of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Navy confirmed that the vessel is being towed back to land with the assistance of another craft.

The Director General of the Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Susantha Kahawatta, reported that the crew of the fishing boat "Devon," which had departed from the Tangalle fisheries harbor, encountered the bottles containing the unknown liquid while at sea. Believing it to be alcohol, they consumed it, leading to the fatalities and critical conditions.

Emergency first aid instructions are being communicated to the vessel via devices, as there is insufficient time to send another rescue craft. Efforts are underway to transfer the affected fishermen to a nearby vessel and bring them ashore as quickly as possible.

Kahawatta also mentioned that the fishermen had distributed some of the bottles to nearby fishing trawlers, and steps are being taken to notify those boats of the potential danger.

The incident highlights the dire consequences of consuming unidentified substances and the urgent need for caution in such situations.