Sri Lanka arrests 10 Indian fishermen

Colombo, January 15

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 10 Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters, an official statement said on Monday, two days after 12 fishermen from India were apprehended on similar charges.

The fishermen were arrested, and their trawler seized on Sunday north of Point Pedro, Jaffna, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release. The 10 apprehended fishermen were escorted to the Kankesanthurai harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said.

On Saturday, as many as 12 Indian fishermen were arrested, and their three trawlers seized for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters. — PTI

Contentious issue

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in India-Lanka ties. Last year, the island nation arrested 240 Indian fishermen in “Lankan waters”.