India’s Marine police arrests two Sri Lankan fishermen

His comments come following the arrest of 19 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy on Saturday off the coast of Vadamaradchi East.

“This is a matter that raises hostilities between the people of the two countries. Therefore, I urge the government of Sri Lanka to take a few action with the Indian government and Tamil Nadu state government”, Sampanthan was quoted by the Indian Express, as saying.

“The action could be for the navy to patrol the border”.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan also known as Pillayan, a former chief minister of the Eastern province, was arrested by the police Criminal Investigations Department in connection with the murder of legislator Joseph Pararajasingham, police said.

Further, Jayalalithaa said, ‘the denial of this right and the prolonged incarceration of our fishermen in Sri Lankan jails after being unlawfully apprehended while rightfully engaging in their livelihood activity of fishing in their traditional waters is causing considerable misery and frustration amongst the fisherfolk of Tamilnadu’.

Fishermen violating each other’s territorial waters has become a thorny issue in the Indo-Lanka relations and Sri Lankan parliament has debated the issue only yesterday.

“We have laws under which the authorities can detain the skippers of boats rather than arresting and detaining the poor Indian fishermen”, JVP’s Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka’s long-drawn Tamil separatist campaign was one of the bloodiest and left tens of thousands dead since 1983.

Fishermen of Arcot Thurai in Nagapattinam district who ventured into the sea found the two Sri Lankans and rescued them.

Bottom-trawling not only takes away the fish in the oceans but also damages the ocean bed, destroying marine habitat and resources.