At least 35 Indian fishermen have been arrested and their four boats have been seized for allegedly violating the international maritime boundary line, Navy said today.
Naval spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said the fishermen were arrested and their four trawlers were seized last night off Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka's west coast.
They are currently being escorted to be handed over to Kalpitiya police, Warnakulasuriya said.
The fishermen will be charged for violating the international maritime border line, the Navy said.
The arrests have come despite a recent delegation that visited Sri Lanka for talks by the affected Tamil Nadu fishermen who often complain of harassment by the Lankan Navy.
Sri Lanka Navy denies harassment and accuse Tamil Nadu fishermen of trespassing on to Lankan waters.
Earlier this month, India had summoned Sri Lankan High Commissioner and issued a demarche on the issue of 114 Indian fishermen lodged in Lankan jails.
Currently, there are 114 Indian fishermen and 21 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody held over various periods of up to two months.
