Sri Lanka arrests 25 Indian fishermen

COLOMBO - The Sri Lankan navy arrested 25 Indian fishermen for entering Sri Lankan waters illegally, the navy said on Tuesday.

The navy media unit said that the fishermen were arrested when they crossed the international maritime boundary line in the north of the country.

The fishermen and their boats are to be handed over to the authorities to decide on the next course of action.

The arrest was the first since India and Sri Lanka had talks last week and decided to free all fishermen in custody.

The issue of fishermen from both countries crossing the international maritime boundary line has been a sensitive issue over the past few years.

India and Sri Lanka began releasing fishermen in custody ahead of the Ministerial level talks last week and fishermen associations are scheduled to meet in Chennai next week to reach a final solution.

Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry said that the substantial number of fishermen, both from Sri Lankan and Indian, arrested in recent months and incarcerated for poaching in each other's waters, is an issue that has called for the attention of both Governments at high level.

Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratna had however said that Indian fishermen who poach in Sri Lankan waters will still face arrest despite talks to resolve the dispute involving fishermen between both countries.

Senaratna said that Indians or Sri Lankans cannot cross the international maritime boundary line illegally and not be arrested.

He said that maritime laws will be followed and even if Sri Lankan fishermen cross into Indian waters illegally they will be arrested.