Nine Indian Fishermen Detained for Suspected Poaching in Sri Lankan Waters

Colombo, Jul 25 : On July 25, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended nine Indian fishermen and seized two trawlers for allegedly engaging in poaching within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, marking the second incident of its kind this month. The arrests took place near Delft Island, Jaffna, with the fishermen hailing from Tamil Nadu. The Sri Lankan Navy and coast guard conducted a special operation to deter Indian poaching trawlers on July 24, leading to the capture of the two Indian trawlers with nine nationals on board. The arrested fishermen, belonging to Mandapam in the Ramanathapuram district, were caught between Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu on Monday night. The seized trawlers, along with the Indian fishermen, were taken to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal proceedings, as per the Navy’s statement. The Sri Lankan Navy continues its efforts to combat illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers through regular patrols and operations in its waters. The issue of fishermen’s livelihood also emerged during discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ranil Wickremesinghe during the recent visit of Sri Lankan President to India. Both leaders acknowledged the need for a compassionate approach to address the matter. The contentious issue of fishermen has been a recurring challenge in the bilateral ties between the two countries, often leading to tensions. The Palk Strait, separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a lucrative fishing ground for both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, but it has seen instances of alleged firing and boat seizures by Sri Lankan Navy personnel. Despite several high-level talks, illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters by Indian fishermen remains a persistent problem.