Navy arrests 20 Indian fishermen for poaching

The Sri Lanka Navy said it had arrested 20 Indian fishermen and seized their two trawlers last night for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

Fast Attack Craft attached to the Northern Naval Command on a routine patrol apprehended the 20 Indian fishermen along with their trawlers for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters north of Kovilan Point and Point Pedro on 1 December.

One of the seized trawlers was brought to the naval base SLNS Elara in Karainagar while the other trawler and fishermen were retained at SLNS Uttara in Kankasanthurai.

The apprehended fishermen were subsequently handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for further legal action. (Colombopage)