Colombo
The Sri Lankan Navy has apprehended 10 Indian fishermen and seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in its territorial waters, marking the first time Indian fishermen have been caught by the Navy.
The fishermen were apprehended off Alampil in Mullaitivu on August 7, and the operation led to the seizure of an Indian trawler with 10 Indian fishermen on board.
The trawler, along with the 10 fishermen, was brought to the port of Trincomalee and will be handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries-Trincomalee through the Sri Lanka Coast Guard for further legal proceedings.
The Sri Lankan Navy has seized 14 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 93 Indian fishermen so far in 2023.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K Stalin, requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s intervention to ensure the immediate release and repatriation of 19 Tamil Nadu fishermen in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.
