Sri Lanka fishing vessel captured inside Maldives EEZ

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has captured a Sri Lankan fishing boat in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). MNDF lieutenant Abdulla Ali revealed that on a tip-off from some locals, the coastguard had captured the fishing boat 180 miles east of Meemu Atoll.  

He did not reveal the number of people in the boat or the reasons behind the boat’s presence inside the Maldivian EEZ.

 “Now the boat is under the control of coastguard,” Abdulla said.

International environment protection group Greenpeace had reported sighting two Sri Lankan fishing boats fishing in Maldivian EEZ while they were returning to Sri Lanka after their recent visit to Maldives. (Haveeru)