Sri Lankan Navy arrests 50 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 50 Indian fishermen for illegal poaching in its waters, a navy official said Tuesday.

The official said that majority of the Indian fishermen were arrested off Point Pedro in northern Sri Lanka while the rest were arrested off Delft Islands, Xinhua reported.

The navy spokesman said that seven boats used by the fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters illegally were also seized.

The arrests come as fishermen from India threatened to force their way into Sri Lankan waters next month as a mark of protest over the frequent arrests of Indian fishermen.

Fishermen in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have said they will travel to Sri Lanka by boat Aug 2, carrying white flags and surrender themselves to officials.

Repeated attempts to resolve the issue between fishermen of both countries have failed with both sides refusing to agree to some demands. - IANS