11 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka Navy for alleged illegal fishing

Colombo: The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested 11 Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in the island nation's water, according to an official release.

The arrests were made during a "special operation" in the northern sea area off Delft Island, the Navy said in a press release.

The 11 fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurei Harbour and will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for legal proceedings, it said.

Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other’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.

The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.