Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 54 Indian Fishermen, Seizes 5 Fishing Trawlers

Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other's waters. The fishermen issue has become a major irritant in bilateral ties.

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested at least 54 Indian fishermen and seized five trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters, an official statement said in Colombo today. The Lankan Navy arrested the fishermen on Wednesday off the coast of northern and northeastern areas. "Having considered the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community and the sustainability of fishery resources of Sri Lanka, the Navy is conducting regular patrols to curb illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters," the Sri Lankan Navy said in the statement. The Lankan Navy seized a large Indian fishing vessel with 14 fishermen on board, about 3 nautical miles off the coast of Kovilan in Jaffna.