Lanka repatriates 19 Indian fishermen to Chennai

Colombo, May 5: Sri Lanka has repatriated 19 Indian fishermen who had been arrested and jailed for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. The repatriation was notified by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. It said that the 19 Indian fisherman were repatriated from Sri Lanka to Chennai today morning.

 

 

 

 

According to the Colombo Gazette, Sri Lanka has repatriated 19 Indian fishermen who had been arrested and jailed for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. The repatriation was notified by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka on Twitter, tweeting that, "To rejoin their families and friends! 19 Indian fisherman were repatriated from Sri Lanka to Chennai today morning."

 

 

 

 

 

India and Sri Lanka share a history about fishermen from both sides intruding in maritime sovereignty of either country, followed with arrests or at times even firing. Sri Lanka has been arresting Indian fishermen who poach in Sri Lankan waters since a considerable period and thus has many Indian fishermen arrested under the charges of intrusion.

 

 

Recently, in March this year, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 16 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu for alleged intrusion into its maritime boundary. Reports suggest that 12 of the fishermen were arrested while they were fishing near Katchatheevu and the rest from Gulf of Mannar. The issue of fishermen is being discussed on diplomatic levels as well as ministerial level for years, leading to no agreeable solution by the two. The repatriation of 19 Indian fishermen is happening at a time of crisis in Lanka, when the Indian govt is cooperating to its fullest to aid the island nation.