19 Indians caught bottom trawling despite ban

The Sri Lankan navy arrested 19 Indian fishermen when they were found to have crossed the International Maritime Boundary and trespassing on Sri Lanka’s territorial waters last night.

Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said they were intercepted while engaged in bottom trawling in the seas off the Delft.

“The arrest was made when the Indian fishermen were found well within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters” he said.

The fishermen and their boats were handed over to the officials of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department in Jaffna for legal action.