GG News Bureau
Colombo, 4th April. 19 Indian fishermen who were detained by the Sri Lanka Navy were sent back to India after being released by the authorities, as confirmed by the Indian High Commission on Wednesday.
The Indian High Commission announced that the 19 fishermen have been repatriated from Sri Lanka and are currently on their way from Colombo to Chennai.
So far in 2024, the Sri Lankan Navy has detained 23 Indian trawlers and 178 Indian fishermen for fishing in the waters of the island nation. These individuals have been handed over to the authorities for legal action, as stated by the Sri Lankan Navy last month.
The issue of fishermen has been a point of contention in the relationship between India and Sri Lanka. There have been incidents where the Lankan Navy personnel have fired at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seized their boats for allegedly entering Sri Lankan waters illegally.
The release of the 19 Indian fishermen comes at a time when there is a dispute over the Katchatheevu island, with the ruling BJP in India accusing the Congress Party of giving away the island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently referenced a media report to claim that the Congress Party had irresponsibly handed over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also criticized the Congress Party and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) regarding the Katchchatheevu island matter.
The Palk Strait, which separates Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a significant fishing area for fishermen from both countries. Incidents of fishermen from India and Sri Lanka unintentionally crossing into each other’s waters are common.
In 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen and seized 35 trawlers for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
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