55 fishermen arrested

The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested 55 Indian fishermen on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters. It also seized eight trawlers used by them.

With this arrest and seizure, there are now 76 Indian fishermen and 74 trawlers in Sri Lankan custody.

Of the 55 fishermen, 21 were caught off Kankesanthurai, a harbour town along the northern coast of the Jaffna peninsula. One trawler was seized. Thirty were held off Thalaimannar, where six fishermen were arrested only two days ago.

The Navy seized six trawlers, according to officials at the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Four were arrested off Delft Island or Neduntheevu. The Navy confiscated one trawler in their possession.