Sri Lanka arrests 14 Indian fishermen for 'poaching' in its waters, in all 240 so far this year

The Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 14 Indian fishermen and confiscated their trawler for alleged poaching in the waters of the island nation, taking the total number of arrests this year to nearly 240. The arrests took place on Sunday off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffna peninsula, as stated by the Navy in a release on Monday. In this year, a total of 240 Indian fishermen, along with 35 trawlers, have been detained for engaging in illegal fishing activities. Earlier on December 6, at least 21 Indian fishermen were similarly arrested with their four trawlers seized in the northeastern waters off Mannar and Kovilan. Last week, referring to the recurring problem of “Indian fishermen doing illegal fishing” in Sri Lankan waters, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda told Parliament that it needs a top-level diplomatic solution between the two nations. The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating India’s Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.