Colombo, Dec 12 (newsin.asia) – The Sri Lanka Navy, on Tuesday arrested 23 Indian fishermen for poaching illegally in Sri Lanka’s northern seas, the navy media unit said here in a statement.
Five fishing trawlers, belonging to the Indian fishermen were also taken into custody.
The fishermen were arrested north and northwest of Delft Island.
“The arrested fishermen were brought to the naval base SLNS Uththara in Kankesanthurai. Meanwhile, the trawlers had been taken to SLNS Elara in Kareinagar. They were handed over to the Assistant Fisheries Director of Jaffna for onward legal action,” the navy said.
The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly warned that Indian fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan waters to fish illegally will continue to be arrested and their boats will be taken into custody.
Sri Lanka and Indian fishermen often face arrests when they enter each other’s territorial waters illegally with both countries attempting to find a lasting solution to the Indo-Lanka fishing dispute.
