4 Indian fishermen arrested in northern Sri Lanka

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-22 14:56:04|Editor: huaxia
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COLOMBO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan navy on Thursday said they had arrested four Indian fishermen for illegally entering Sri Lankan waters northwest of Delft Island in the country's former war-torn north.

Navy Spokesperson, Lieutenant Commander Chaminda Walakuluge told Xinhua that the fishermen were arrested on Monday night by Naval personnel attached to a Fast Attack Craft.

A steel hull bottom trawler belonging to the Indian fishermen was also taken into custody.

Having brought the arrested fishermen, fishing trawler and their fishing gear to the naval base, SLNS Elara in Kareitivu, they were handed over to the Jaffna assistant director of fisheries for onward legal action, the navy media unit said in a statement.

Sri Lanka recently released 42 Indian boats, from a total of 143 which is in its custody as a goodwill gesture following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the island country in May.

However Sri Lankan officials warned that Indian fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan waters to fish illegally will continue to be arrested and their boats will be taken into custody.

Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen often face arrests when they enter each other's territorial waters illegally with both countries attempting to find a lasting solution to the fishing dispute. Enditem

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