Sri Lanka arrests 15 Indian Fishermen

Colombo, Nov 26: Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday arrested 15 Indian fishermen on charges of violating the International Maritime Boundary, a navy official said.

Navy spokesperson Akram Alavi told Xinhua news agency that nine fishermen were arrested in the seas near Delft Island. Six other were arrested in the seas near Talaimannar. A total of three boats were seized.

Sri Lankan fishermen on Tuesday staged a protest walk in capital Colombo demanding that Indian authorities take immediate steps to prevent fishermen from entering Sri Lankan waters.

Sri Lanka and India have been trying to resolve the long-standing fishing issue with fishermen from both sides often entering each other’s waters which ends up in arrests and boats being detained. (IANS)