Colombo: As many as 65 fishermen in nine trawlers from India were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday night, on charges of fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
Naval spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya has said 34 Indians were arrested off Point Pedro and five boats were also seized. The Navy said that another 31 fishermen were arrested off Trincomalee and four trawlers on which they were travelling were also seized.
"The arrest came last night and the fishermen have been handed over to the authorities in Point Pedro in the north and the eastern port district of Trincomalee" he said. "They will be charged of violating the international maritime border limits," said the Naval officer.
Commenting on the frequent incidents of trespassing by Indian fishermen, PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa said that it could be part of an "organised operation". Whereas, his brother Basil Rajapaksa who is the Minister of Economic Development in Sri Lanka has invited a group of Indian fishermen to visit Sri Lanka to discuss the issue.
The arrest came just as Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen were preparing to have talks on the issues that crop up when fishermen cross the International Boundary Line (IMBL). The government sources said that a fishermen group from Rameswaram would be due early August.
