GL in Delhi but Indian Fishing vessels continue to break into ‘Sea of Sri Lanka’.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Despite ongoing discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian government officials, Indian fishing vessels continue to make incursions into Sri Lankan waters.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof. GL Peiris is currently in New Delhi for talks and the contentious fishing issue is top amongst the agenda for discussion.

Despite this, late last night (7th Feb), Sri Lankan Navy took control of 3 vessels off the coast of Delft Island in the Sea of Sri Lanka.

In an operation conducted off the Delft Island in the dark hours of 07th February 2022, Sri Lanka Navy took hold of 03 Indian trawlers and 11 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

Taking into account the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community and the sustainability of fishery resources of Sri Lanka, the Navy is conducting regular patrols and operations to curb illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters.

In the operation, Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Northern Naval Command seized 03 Indian trawlers for poaching in Sri Lankan waters close to the Delft Island in Jaffna, via International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The Navy also nabbed 11 Indian fishermen aboard the poaching vessels which were engaging in the illegal fishing method known as ‘bottom trawling’.

On Monday (7), 21 Indian fishermen who were previously detained were remanded to the 21st of February by the Point Pedro Magistrate's Court.

The court granted permission to record statements from the Indian fishermen and also ordered for the 100 kg catch detected from their boats to be sold and the return is produced to the court.

In a special operation conducted by Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard, 02 Indian trawlers with 21 Indian fishermen were held for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters, off Kovilan and Point Pedro Lighthouse, Jaffna on the night of 31st January 2022.

This special operation was mounted by deploying Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Northern Naval Command, another Fast Patrol Boat of Sri Lanka Coast Guard and with the assistance of the Navy’s Special Boat Squadron.

The operation led to the apprehension of these 02 Indian trawlers with 21 Indian fishermen while poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters on the night of 31st January.

As the Indian trawlers were attempting to evade naval units with their aggressive manoeuvres, they also caused damages to the SLN Fast Attack Craft.

The Navy also held several bottom trawling equipment and fish caught by this illegal fishing method from the seized fishing trawlers.