Sri Lanka yesterday strongly rejected allegations that its navy had killed an Indian fisherman and warned of "elements" trying to tarnish relations between the neighbouring countries.
Navy spokesman Captain Athula Senarath said its personnel had no involvement in Saturday's reported shooting off the Kodikarai coast in Nagapattinam district, where one fisherman was killed and two were injured.
"Our patrol crafts operating off the northern coast have nothing to do with this reported incident," he said. "There may be some elements involved in trying to tarnish the good relations we have."