Lankan Navy arrests 11 Indian fishermen

Colombo, February 16

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested at least 11 India fishermen for allegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters. The fishermen were arrested from the northern coast of the Alanathivu island on Saturday and their three trawlers were taken under the Navy’s charge, a senior Sri Lankan Navy official said.

“The fishermen and their trawlers would be handed over to the Jaffna, fisheries directorate through the coastal conservation department,” the official said. Navy said that over the months the number of Indian fishing boats poaching in the Sri Lankan waters have reduced due to continuous surveillance. — PTI

3 caught for migration bid

Colombo: The Sri Lankan Navy has detained three Indian nationals, including a seven-year-old girl, while they were allegedly attempting to illegally migrate to Sri Lanka on a dinghy. The dinghy was seen in the sea area north of Talaimannar by a naval craft patrolling the area, Navy officials said, adding three Indians and two Sri Lankans were arrested. Among those detained were a 33-year-old woman, a seven-year-old girl and two Sri Lankans who ferried the Indians on the dinghy, the Colombo Gazette reported. Those arrested were administered first aid and were handed over to the Talaimannar police, the daily said. PTI