Fifty-four Indian fishermen found poaching in Sri Lankan waters had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the seas off Talaimannar and the coast of Kankesanturai in two separate incidents last night.
 
Military spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said along with the fishermen, ten fishing vessels had also been confiscated.

He said thirty-three Indian fishermen were arrested and five boats were seized at Talaimannar while the rest of them on another five boats were arrested at Kankesanturai.
 
The fishermen had violated the International Maritime Boundary Line and were using the illegal method of bottom trawling, he said.
 
“The fishermen together with their trawlers would be handed over to the fisheries authorities in Talaimannar and Jaffna for legal action,” he said.(DS)