Fifteen Sri Lankan fishermen and their five fishing boats were taken into Myanmar custody yesterday on charges of illegal fishing within the territorial waters of Myanmar, the Sri Lanka Fisheries Department said.

Fisheries Department Assistant Director Lal De Silva said requests are being made through diplomatic channels to secure their release.

“The fishermen may have crossed into Myanmar waters and thus violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL),” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. De Silva said 30 to 35 fishing trawlers were caught in a storm in the seas off Myanmar and Bangladesh with the fishermen reportedly stranded.

The Fisheries Department had informed the Myanmar and Bangladesh Governments to provide whatever assistance necessary to these fishermen. (Chaturanga Pradeep)