Sri Lanka Navy assisted the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to arrest 4 Indian fishermen along with an Indian fishing trawler, poaching in Sri Lankan waters South West of Delft Island today morning (1). 

Having brought the arrested fishermen and trawler to SLNS Elara in Karainagar, they will be handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Jaffna for onward action.

The arrest happened amid preparations to conduct a dialogue between Indian and Sri Lanka fishermen to resolve the dispute in Delhi on tomorrow. 

Under the current policy of the government Indian fishermen engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters are arrested and legal actions are also taken against them.

Even though the arrested fishermen are released on humanitarian grounds their vessels and fishing gear will not be released and will be confiscated.