In the latest update, Sri Lanka has arrested 18 Indian fishermen and confiscated their trawlers on grounds of suspected poaching in the country's waters. This marks the third such incident in January alone, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.

The arrests took place on Tuesday off the coast of Mannar in the northeast, as reported by the Sri Lanka Navy in a press release. The 18 fishermen, along with their two trawlers, were taken into custody and escorted to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar. Subsequently, they are set to be handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for further action.

This incident follows the arrest of ten Indian fishermen on Sunday, along with the seizure of their trawler, for alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters. Additionally, on Saturday, 12 Indian fishermen were apprehended in a similar context.

The ongoing issue of fishermen crossing maritime boundaries has strained relations between India and Sri Lanka. Instances include the Lankan Navy personnel firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats. The Palk Strait, a narrow waterway separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, serves as a lucrative fishing ground for both countries.

The conflict over fishing territories has resulted in periodic arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and engaging in fishing activities within Sri Lankan waters. Notably, in 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

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