Sri Lanka arrests 29 Indian fishermen

Chennai, March 6: The Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday arrested 29 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

The navy said it assisted the Sri Lanka Coast Guard in arresting the fishermen at two locations in the north and north-western seas, a news agency reported.

The navy also seized a trawler and three small boats.

Indian fishermen have been arrested over the past few years for poaching in Sri Lankan waters and both countries are still struggling to resolve the issue.

Indian media reports last week quoted Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as saying she had held consultations with top Sri Lankan leadership to resolve the issue of fishermen from India.

Last week, fishermen in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu staged protests demanding the immediate release of fellow fishermen from Sri Lankan jails.

IANS