Seventy three Indian fishermen found poaching in Sri Lankan waters had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the seas off Talaimannar and Delft Islands in two separate incidents last night, the Navy said.

Sixteen fishing vessels had also been confiscated.

Navy Spokesman Kosala Waranakulasuriya said that 41 Indians were arrested off the North-Western coast of Talaimannar along with eight trawlers and another 32 fishermen along with eight trawlers while they were engaged in fishing off the Delft Islands.

He said the fishermen had violated the International Maritime Boundary Line and were using the illegal method of bottom trawling.

“The fishermen together with their trawlers would be handed over to the fisheries authorities in Talaimannar and Jaffna for legal action,” he said.(DS)

Pic courtesy by Navy