Sri Lanka arrests 14 Indian fishermen

Colombo: Sri Lankan authorities arrested 14 Indian fishermen for illegally poaching in local waters, navy officials said on Thursday.

The fishermen were taken into custody along with three fishing trawlers in the northern seas, in close proximity to Delft island, Xinhua news agency reported.

The officials said that the arrested fishermen and the trawlers were brought to Karainagar and handed over to the department of fisheries and aquatic resources authorities for further action.

Sri Lanka and India have been trying to resolve the long-standing fishermen issue with both sides having to face arrest and boats being detained when they stray into each other’s waters illegally.