Just a week after Sri Lanka’s new president Sirisena visited New Delhi to boost bilateral relations, more than 60 Indian fishermen were arrested in the mid sea by the island nation’s Navy on the charges of violating International Maritime Boundary Line.
The Sri Lankan navy also seized 11 mechanised boats and fishing nets.
The arrest came at a time when both India and Sri Lanka were taking measures to resume talks on March 5 between fishermen from both sides. Fisheries Department sources here said on Friday that the 43 fishermen hailing from Karikal coastal region were arrested by the Lankan Navy off Mullaitheevu area on Thursday night. The Lankan force also seized five boats from them.