India has more fishermen in custody: Navy

Rejecting the allegations made by Tamil Nadu today that Sri Lankan Navy has turned Bay of Bengal into an ‘open-air prison’, Sri Lankan Navy said that India was more responsible for the fishermen issue as they had more fishermen in their custody.

“It is the Indian Authorities that has more Sri Lankan fishermen in their custody. As the Navy of our country what we do is secure the maritime borders and we have never acted beyond that cause,” Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.

According to Indian media, Tamil Nadu politician, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi had said the Sri Lankan Navy had turned Bay of Bengal into an "open-air prison," and charged New Delhi with allowing that. (Lahiru Pothmulla)