COLOMBO (Nov 3): The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 35 Indian fishermen and seized four trawlers for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing within the island nation’s territorial waters, officials said on Monday.
Navy spokesman Commander Buddika Sampath said the operation was conducted overnight near Kankesanthurai, off the northern Jaffna district, a region frequently witnessing tensions over fishing rights in the Palk Strait.
“The arrested fishermen and their equipment will be handed over to the fisheries inspectorate in the north for further legal action,” the Navy said in a statement.
Incidents of Indian fishermen being detained for crossing the maritime boundary into Sri Lankan waters occur regularly, with both countries pledging in recent years to seek “humane and practical solutions” through joint working groups and diplomatic dialogue.
India has often called for the early release of its fishermen and boats, while Sri Lanka has maintained that poaching and trawling by Indian vessels harm local marine ecosystems and affect the livelihoods of northern Sri Lankan fishermen.
The latest arrests come amid ongoing discussions between New Delhi and Colombo on implementing sustainable fishing practices and strengthening maritime cooperation in the Palk Bay region.