Sri Lanka Navy arrests 13 Indian fishermen poaching off eastern coast

Sri Lanka Navy today arrested 13 Indian fishermen poaching in the Sri Lankan waters off the eastern coast of Trincomalee and seized their two trawlers. Patrolling Sri Lankan Navy vessels attached to the Eastern Naval Command have kept the two trawlers under surveillance following their sighting at a location 14.2 nautical miles north-east of Pulmudai Tuesday afternoon. A navy communiqu' said
the Navy apprehended the Indian fishing trawlers with the 13 crew members for willfully trespassing on Sri Lankan waters when the trawlers have made an "unwarranted movement towards land". The boats were seized at a location 6.5 nautical miles east of Pulmudai Wednesday morning. The trawlers and the crew are to be handed over to the Trincomalee Harbour Police for further action. Sri Lanka Navy conducts routine patrols in country's territorial waters and provides assistance to fishermen in distress. "Strict vigilance is maintained to ensure the compliance of the country's maritime laws and violators are arrested accordingly and handed over to law enforcement authorities for legal action," the Navy says. Indian fishermen, mainly from Tamil Nadu, illegally poaching in large scale with trawlers in Sri Lanka's waters, have become a serious threat to the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen. Illegal fishing by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters and alleged attacks on them by the Sri Lankan Navy are a constant consternation for the two countries.