<p>Seventy three Indian fishermen have been arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly poaching into the country's waters, the Navy said today, days after it released 33 fishermen from the country.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Navy spokesman Kosala Waranakulasuriya said that 41 Indian fishermen were arrested off the coast of Talaimannar in the north while another 32 fishermen were arrested off the Delft Islands yesterday.<br /><br />Fifteen fishing vessels have also been confiscated.<br /><br />The fishermen arrested in Delft were being brought to the Kankesanturai port while others would be handed over to the fisheries inspection office at Talaimannar.<br /><br />Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa last had ordered the release of Indian fishermen arrested as a goodwill gesture.<br /><br />Rajapaksa had attended the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26 in Delhi.<br /><br />Talks between India and Sri Lanka on the fishermen issue had ended in deadlock early last month and negotiators are scheduled to meet again this month.<br /><br />Sri Lanka had shot down a request from Tamil Nadu fishermen to allow fishing in Lankan waters for 70 days a year and to allow bottom trawling.<br /><br />The Naval personnel had on June one arrested 33 fishermen in two separate incidents while they were fishing near Katchatheevu. However, a court in Sri Lanka freed them on June 4 after the President ordered their release.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan fishing community lament the lack of a consistent programme in releasing the Indian fishermen.<br /><br />Anton Jesudasan of the north eastern fisheries federation said although Sri Lanka has taken swift action with regard to Indian fishermen, authorities have turned a blind eye to the question of locals arrested by the Indians for the same offence. </p>
<p>Seventy three Indian fishermen have been arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly poaching into the country's waters, the Navy said today, days after it released 33 fishermen from the country.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Navy spokesman Kosala Waranakulasuriya said that 41 Indian fishermen were arrested off the coast of Talaimannar in the north while another 32 fishermen were arrested off the Delft Islands yesterday.<br /><br />Fifteen fishing vessels have also been confiscated.<br /><br />The fishermen arrested in Delft were being brought to the Kankesanturai port while others would be handed over to the fisheries inspection office at Talaimannar.<br /><br />Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa last had ordered the release of Indian fishermen arrested as a goodwill gesture.<br /><br />Rajapaksa had attended the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26 in Delhi.<br /><br />Talks between India and Sri Lanka on the fishermen issue had ended in deadlock early last month and negotiators are scheduled to meet again this month.<br /><br />Sri Lanka had shot down a request from Tamil Nadu fishermen to allow fishing in Lankan waters for 70 days a year and to allow bottom trawling.<br /><br />The Naval personnel had on June one arrested 33 fishermen in two separate incidents while they were fishing near Katchatheevu. However, a court in Sri Lanka freed them on June 4 after the President ordered their release.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan fishing community lament the lack of a consistent programme in releasing the Indian fishermen.<br /><br />Anton Jesudasan of the north eastern fisheries federation said although Sri Lanka has taken swift action with regard to Indian fishermen, authorities have turned a blind eye to the question of locals arrested by the Indians for the same offence. </p>