A total 23 Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for a♍llegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters have been released by the authorities in Colombo and repatriated, the Indian High Commission said on Friday.
“23 Indian fisherme🗹n were repatriated back to their homes today morning from Colombo,” the Indian High Commission here said in a tweet.
On July 12, th𝄹e Sri La🌜nkan Navy arrested six Indian fishermen for alleged violation of maritime boundary while fishing in the Palk Strait region.
At least 12 Indian fishermen were ar൩rested by the Sri Lankan Navy on July 3 for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial wa🥀ters.
According to the Sri Lankan Navy, these๊ arrests are part of their patrols to cut illegal fishing in the country’s waters to minimise the impact from poaching on the local fishermen and sustainability of fishery resources in Sri Lanka.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in th෴e ties between Indiaꦡ and Sri Lanka.
There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being appr♏ehended by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
(With PTI inputs)
