Indian Fishermen Arrested In Sri Lanka: The Sri Lankan Navy, on Saturday (January 11) night, launched a special operation in the maritime area north of Mannar and arrested 8 Indian fishermen and seized their two fishing boats. This incident again highlights the long-running fishing dispute between India and Sri Lanka.
According to a Sri Lankan Navy press statement, on the night of 11 January, the North Central Naval Command observed Indian fishing boats fishing illegally in Sri Lankan waters. After this, fast attack craft and other naval units were deployed, which seized these boats and arrested the fishermen. These fishermen were brought to Iranativu Island and will be handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Kilinochchi.
India-Sri Lanka fishermen dispute
The issue of fishermen is a controversial topic between India and Sri Lanka. Palk Strait, which is an important fishing area between the two countries. This often becomes the center of this controversy. Fishermen unknowingly enter each other’s territory, leading to arrests and seizure of boats by the Navy.
In the year 2024, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 529 Indian fishermen on charges of illegal fishing in its waters. This number reflects the strained relations between India and Sri Lanka, especially when incidents of firing on Indian fishermen have also been recorded.
Impact on relations between India and Sri Lanka
Issues like arrest of fishermen and seizure of boats remain a major challenge in India-Sri Lanka relations. This dispute between the two countries is decades old, in which the fishermen of Tamil Nadu are most affected.
Fishing controversy in headlines
The arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has once again brought the fishing dispute between the two countries into the spotlight. This incident underlines the need for better communication and solutions between the two countries to protect the safety of fishermen and their means of livelihood.
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