16 Indian fishermen arrested in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Navy today arrested 16 Indian fishermen and seized their three trawlers for allegedly violating the country's international maritime boundary.

The Navy spokesman said that they were arrested off the coast of Kalpitiya for violating Sri Lanka's international maritime boundary.

They would be handed over to the Kalpitiya police for further action.

Tension prevails between the fishermen of the two countries who regularly cross into each other's territorial waters.

Fishermen in Sri Lanka's north last month staged a protest march to ask authorities to prevent Indian fishermen from poaching in Sri Lankan waters.