Sept 14, Colombo: During a special operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on Wednesday night, 17 Indian fishermen were arrested and their three trawlers were seized for allegedly breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in island’s northern waters.

The Northern Naval Command deployed a Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after spotting the Indian fishermen engaging in illegal fishing in the island’s waters off the Kakarathivu Island and Kovilan Lighthouse on 13th September.

The operation led to the apprehension of the three Indian trawlers which continued to remain in the Sri Lankan waters along with the 17 Indian nationals on board.

The three trawlers together with 17 Indian fishermen were brought to the port of Kankasanthurai and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for onward legal proceedings, the Navy said.

Including the poaching trawlers held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 17 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 110 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023. Following these apprehensions, the poaching trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to relevant authorities for legal action.