Nov 19, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Navy has arrested 22 Indian fishermen and seized their dhows for breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in island’s waters.

According to the Navy Media Unit, on the morning of 18th November 2023, Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation in northern waters to chase away poaching Indian trawlers from island’s waters.

the Northern Naval Command deployed its Fast Attack Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on Saturday morning.

In the operation, the Northern Naval Command held these 02 Indian dhows with 22 Indian fishermen, for poaching off Point Pedro, in island waters.

The apprehended Indian fishermen and the poaching dhows were brought to the Kankasanthurai Harbor and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for onward legal action.

Including the Indian dhows held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 29 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 196 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023. Following these apprehensions, the poaching trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to relevant authorities for legal action.