Navy denies Indian media reports

5 November 2013 11:40 am

While categorically denying Indian News media reports, the Sri Lanka Navy said that 30 Indian fishermen were arrested within the framework of existing international maritime law and handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna.

Indian Media reported that two Indian fishermen have been killed in a chase by the Sri Lankan Navy.

“As a recognized force protecting the territorial waters of Sri Lanka we have arrested 30 fishermen and handed them over to the relevant authorities. We categorically deny all other allegations and reports,” Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.

He said that the fishermen were poaching within Sri Lankan territorial waters and had crossed the international maritime boundary.

The Daily Mirror earlier reported that several thousands of Indian boats arrived each day into Sri Lankan waters and ‘bottom trawl’ destroying the entirety of the marine resources of the country.

Fishermen in Delft, Kanksanthurai, Kalpitiya, Mannar, Pesalai, and Thalaimannar told the Daily Mirror that fishermen in their thousands approached as close as 500 metres from the shore of the Lankan coast and engaged in poaching. (By Hafeel Farisz)