Sri Lankan navy arrests 15 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing
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Colombo: The Sri Lankan has arrested 15 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in its territorial waters. Officials also seized two trawlers off Talaimannar, a settlement located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island.
The fishermen are currently in naval custody and will be handed over to the fisheries inspector, said an official statement. The incident took place on Saturday.
Illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters is a recurrent problem even after Colombo and New Delhi held frequent high-level talks over it. A recent meeting discussed international maritime boundary challenges between neighbouring nations. At the meeting, the Indian delegation asked its Sri Lankan counterpart to be more "humane" towards fishermen. The 32nd international maritime boundary line meeting had discussed the roles of the two Navies and their coast guards, the Navy said.
The Palk Strait is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. It is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka. Colombo's navy has repeatedly apprehended Indian fishermen for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.