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Sri Lanka: On Wednesday, in a statement an official said that the Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen and alsi seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters. This is the third such incident in this month.
In an official release statement, the Sri Lankan Navy said “The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on the evening of January 16, 2024. The operation led to the seizure of 02 Indian trawlers, with 18 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Mannar.”
The Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release, the fishermen were arrested and their two trawlers seized on Tuesday off the coast of Mannar in the northeast. It also said that the 18 arrested Indian fishermen and 2 trawlers were taken to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar. They will be handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for further action, it added.
At least ten Indian fishermen were arrested on Sunday and their trawler seized for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters. According to the information, while 12 Indian fishermen were apprehended on Saturday.
The arrest by Sri Lankan Navy was raised in discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the latter’s visit to India in July last year. 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.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take prompt action for the release of 12 fishermen who were apprehended by Sri Lanka while fishing near the island nation. The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.
