General

The Sri Lanka Navy has detained 12 Indian fishermen and taken control of one Indian fishing boat for illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters near Mannar. This action took place during the night on February 22, as stated by the Sri Lanka Navy. The North Central Naval Command had detected a group of Indian fishing boats involved in unlawful fishing and trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval vessels from the North Central Naval Command were sent to remove the Indian fishing boats from the waters around Mannar. Additionally, a boarding operation by naval officers led to the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and the arrest of the 12 fishermen who were still engaged in illegal fishing activities. The confiscated boat and the fishermen were subsequently handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Dikovita for further legal action.