Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu:
Sri Lankan naval personnel have arrested 30 Tamil Nadu fishermen in separate incidents when they were fishing in the Palk Strait early this morning, officials said.
With this, a total of 69 fishermen arrested have been arrested in the last three days.
Officials said the Lankan naval personnel arrested the fishermen for "using banned fishing nets" and fishing in their exclusive zone.
They also seized eight boats, three from Mandapam, one from Nagapattinam, two from Kallivayil in Thanjavur and two from Rameswaram.
The arrested fishermen, including four from Nagapattinam, and the boats have been taken to Kangesanthurai, sources said.
Earlier, a Nagappatinam report said four local fishermen were arrested by the Lankan navy when they were fishing off Kodiakarai coast.
The navy personnel had yesterday arrested 20 fishermen of Rameswaram while fishing near Katchatheevu, an islet in the Palk Strait.
On February 1, 19 Indian fishermen were arrested and their five boats seized by the navy when they were allegedly fishing in Lankan waters.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today voiced dismay over the continuing arrests and has told the Centre that such repeated actions undermine all confidence and goodwill which the two countries are attempting to build.