The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 12 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Kovilam, Kareinagar in Jaffna during an operation conducted in the early hours of 11 April 2026.
According to the Navy, the Northern Naval Command detected a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing after trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. Naval craft were subsequently deployed to drive away the vessels from island waters.
During the operation, naval personnel carried out a compliant boarding, leading to the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and the arrest of 12 fishermen who had continued to engage in illegal fishing activities.
The seized fishing boat and the apprehended fishermen were later handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Kankesanthurai for onward legal action. (Newswire)