An open verdict has been issued in the post-mortem examination conducted into the recent deaths of four fishermen who drank a poisonous liquid from a bottle floating in the sea thinking it was alcohol.
The post-mortem examination was conducted by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Tangalle Hospital.
The examination was done after the bodies of the fishermen were handed over following the completion of the Magisterial Inquiry into the deaths.
The bodies of the fishermen were brought to the Tangalle Port last morning and were handed over to their respective families after the completion of the post-mortem examination.
The multi-day fishing vessel “Devon 5” had departed from Tangalle fishing harbour with six fishermen.
On June 28, the group of fishermen had consumed liquid from some bottles they had found floating in the sea, believing it to be alcohol, but had fallen ill as a result.
Out of the crew of 6 fishermen, four had died onboard the vessel, while two of the remaining fishermen had been brought to Sri Lanka during which one succumbed at the Hambantota Hospital, with one fisherman surviving.
The incident had occurred approximately 365 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka. (Newswire)
