The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 14 Indian fishermen and confiscated their trawler on Sunday, accusing them of engaging in illegal fishing within the waters of the island nation. This incident brings the total number of such arrests in the current year to nearly 240, according to a Navy statement released on Monday. The detention occurred off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffna peninsula.
Throughout the year, a total of 240 Indian fishermen, along with 35 trawlers, have been detained for involvement in unauthorized fishing activities. In a similar event on December 6, 21 Indian fishermen were arrested, and their four trawlers were seized in the northeastern waters off Mannar and Kovilan.
Addressing the recurring issue of "Indian fishermen engaging in illegal fishing" in Sri Lankan waters, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda informed Parliament last week that a high-level diplomatic resolution is required between the two countries.
The matter of fishermen crossing into each other's territories has been a contentious issue in the relationship between India and Sri Lanka. Incidents of alleged illegal entry into Sri Lankan territorial waters have led to confrontations, with Lankan Navy personnel reportedly firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and confiscating their boats.
The Palk Strait, a narrow waterway that separates India's Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, serves as a lucrative fishing ground for fishermen from both nations.
