Navy arrests 14 Indian fishermen

Fourteen Indian fishermen along with three boats have been detained by Sri Lankan Navy today in the early morning for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line.

Navy Spokesman captain Akram Alavi says that the fishermen were arrested by the Coast Guard with assistance from the navy in seas close to Delft Island.

The arrested fishermen and boats were taken to the KKS harbour and handed over to Fisheries Department officials.

This move comes after the Sri Lankan Government, in an endeavour to deter fishermen from Tamil Nadu trying to invade the island’s water for poaching, had earlier decided to take strict action against the owners of the boats and release the fishermen.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Amaraweera had earlier said the government will release the poaching Indian fishermen but will confiscate their boats and fishing equipments.