According to a statement released on Sunday, the Sri Lankan Navy has detained at least 15 Indian fishermen and confiscated their two trawlers for allegedly engaging in poaching within the nation’s territorial waters.
According to the Navy’s announcement, the fishermen were detained on Saturday off Talaimannar, a town on Mannar Island’s northwest coast.
According to the statement, the fishermen who are still being held by the navy in Talaimannar will be turned over to the fisheries inspector.
Despite numerous high-level meetings between the two sides, Indian fishermen have a history of engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The latest arrest came as Sri Lanka and India held talks on the international maritime boundary challenges between the two South Asian nations on board a Sri Lanka Naval craft.
The two Navies’ respective coast guard functions were discussed at the 32nd international maritime boundary line meeting, according to the Navy.
The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is strained on the issue of fishermen. In numerous claimed instances of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters, Sri Lankan Navy forces have even opened fire on Indian fisherman in the Palk Strait and taken their boats. For fisherman from both nations, the Palk Strait, a confined body of water dividing Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a productive fishing area.
Periodically, Sri Lankan authorities have detained Indian fishermen for allegedly breaching the international maritime border and fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
