Sri Lankan Navy arrests 18 Indian fishermen for poaching in the third incident this month, escalating tensions in the India-Sri Lanka fisheries dispute
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 18 Indian fishermen and seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country s waters. The issue is contentious in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The Sri Lanka Navy said that it "conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on the evening of January 16, 2024". The apprehended Indian fishermen (18) and the poaching trawlers (02) were brought to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar.
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 10 Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in the island nation's waters, an official statement said on Monday, two days after 12 fishermen from India were apprehended on similar charges.
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 which is a rich fishing grounds for fishermen from both the countries.