Colombo, Sri Lanka, April, 04, 2024: 19 Indian fishermen who were detained by the Sri Lanka Navy have been repatriated to India. The fishermen were released by the authorities in Sri Lanka and are now on their way from Colombo to Chennai.
The Sri Lankan Navy has so far held 178 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the island nation’s waters in 2024. These fishermen, along with 23 Indian trawlers, were handed over to authorities for legal action.
The issue of Indian fishermen allegedly trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters has been a contentious one, often leading to the seizure of their boats and even firing at the fishermen. The release of these 19 Indian fishermen comes amidst a row over the Katchatheevu island issue.
The island of Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, a decision that has recently been criticized by India’s ruling BJP. The party blamed the Congress Party for the decision, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing a media report to assert that new facts reveal that the Congress Party “callously” gave away Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka.
The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other’s waters.
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