Navy arrests 18 Indian fishermen for illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters

Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday has arrested 18 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The Indian fishermen were caught in the seas 16 nautical miles west of lighthouse-Point Pedro during a Naval patrol. Three dhows used by them had also been taken into naval custody.

The arrested Indian fishermen and dhows have been brought to SLNS Uttara in Jaffna.

After a medical test, the fishermen will be handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for further investigation, the Navy Media Unit said.