The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 11 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters, bringing the total number of such arrests this year to 333, according to an official release.
The arrests took place on Friday off the coast of Point Pedro in Jaffna, located in Sri Lanka’s northern province. The navy also seized the fishermen’s trawler, and those apprehended were taken to the Kankesanthurai fishing harbour for further action.
With these latest arrests, the Sri Lankan Navy has seized 45 trawlers in addition to detaining 333 Indian fishermen in 2024, as per the press release.
Following the recent arrests, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, highlighting the recurring nature of these incidents. “In 2024 alone, 324 fishermen and 44 boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. The fishing community in Tamil Nadu continues to face immense hardships due to the recurrent arrests, which severely affect their means of subsistence,” Stalin stated in his letter.
The issue of fishermen’s arrests has long been a contentious point in India-Sri Lanka relations. The Palk Strait, a narrow body of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground that often sees fishermen from both countries inadvertently crossing into each other’s territorial waters. This has led to frequent arrests and occasional confrontations, including incidents where Sri Lankan Navy personnel have fired at Indian fishermen and seized their boats.
