Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 12 Indian Fishermen For Alleged Poaching

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 Indian fishermen and seized two fishing trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters, an official statement said on Sunday.

The arrests were made in seas north of Talaimannar. They were indulging in bottom trawling, the Navy said.

"In an operation conducted in seas north of Talaimannar in the dark hours of February 12, Sri Lanka Navy managed to seize 2 Indian trawlers with 12 Indian fishermen whilst poaching in Sri Lankan waters," said the statement.

This is the third arrest of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters this month.

On February 8, the Navy arrested 11 Indian fishermen and seized three fishing trawlers while on February 1, 21 Indian fishermen were arrested.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in ties between the two countries.

The issue also figured in the talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris last week during the latter's three-day official visit to India.

The arrests of Indian fishermen come as the local immigration officials are making arrangements to repatriate 56 Indian fishermen who were arrested in December.

The arrests of Indians and the local fishermen's agitations seeking government action to stop Indian fishing boats have expanded over the last fortnight.