The Sri Lanka Navy has safely rescued 11 Indian fishermen after their vessel met with an accident near the Delft islands on the northern sea coast.

The incident occurred late last night (05), prompting the Navy to launch an immediate rescue operation. 

Following a prolonged effort, all 11 fishermen were brought ashore at Delft Island today (06). Naval officials confirmed that the men are safe and further procedures are underway.

Meanwhile, the Indian fishing vessel, which was washed ashore by rough seas, is being towed to the Myliddy fishing harbor by naval personnel.

The Navy stated that subsequent activities concerning the rescued fishermen are being jointly handled with officials from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (Newswire)

The post Navy rescues 11 Indian fishermen after vessel accident near Delft Island appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 10 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, in the sea area North of Mannar.

According to the Navy, the Indian fishermen were arrested during an operation conducted on Wednesday night (08).

The North Central Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing and trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. 

In response, naval craft of the North Central Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from the island waters off Mannar. 

However, a compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing boat and the apprehension of 10 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat and Indian fishermen have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

The post Navy arrests 10 Indian fishermen for poaching in Mannar seas appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended two (02) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, in the seas North of Mannar on Wednesday night (13). 

According to the Navy, the North Central Naval Command had spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing and trespassing into Sri Lankan waters.

In response, naval craft of the North Central Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from the seas off Mannar. 

Meanwhile, a compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of the Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 02 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat and Indian fishermen have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Kilinochchi for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

The post Navy seizes Indian fishing boat, Arrests 02 fishermen off Mannar appeared first on Newswire.

Twenty-five Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy during an operation carried out off Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, early this morning.

The Navy also seized two Indian fishing boats while the fishermen were allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

According to the Navy, the operation was conducted by the Northern Naval Command after a group of Indian fishing vessels was spotted engaging in illegal fishing within Sri Lankan territorial waters.

Naval craft were deployed to drive away the vessels, and boarding operations led to the seizure of two boats and the apprehension of 25 fishermen who remained in the area.

The Sri Lanka Navy said it continues to conduct regular operations to prevent illegal fishing by foreign vessels, citing the impact of poaching on marine resources and the livelihoods of local fishing communities.

The arrested fishermen and the seized boats are to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna. (Newswire)

The post 25 Indian fishermen arrested in KKS appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy seized two Indian fishing boats and apprehended seven Indian fishermen during an operation conducted last night (20 Jan), while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Kovilan, Jaffna.

As part of the Navy’s regular operations to deter illegal activities, the Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaged in illegal fishing after trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. 

According to the Navy, Naval craft were deployed to drive them away, and boarding teams seized two boats and arrested seven fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing.

The seized boats and fishermen will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna, for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

The post 07 Indian fishermen arrested for poaching appeared first on Newswire.

Ten Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy last night (Jan. 12) for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters near Delft Island.

The vessel used by the fishermen was also seized during the operation and taken to the Karainagar Naval Camp for further processing.

The fishermen and the vessel are expected to be handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 

According to the Navy, they are scheduled to be produced before the court following the handover. (Newswire)

The post 10 Indian fishermen arrested near Delft Island appeared first on Newswire.

A group of 27 Indian fishermen were repatriated from Sri Lanka today to India, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

The group includes fishermen who were apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities for poaching off Sri Lankan waters. (Newswire)

The post Group of 27 fishermen repatriated to India appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lankan Navy has taken into custody 47 Indian fishermen for allegedly engaging in fishing activities in Sri Lankan territorial waters in violation of maritime laws.

According to the Navy, the arrests were carried out by the Northern and North Central Naval Commands in the seas near Talaimannar and Delft Island.

Five fishing vessels used by the apprehended individuals were also seized by the Navy during the operation.

The fishermen are expected to be handed over to the Fisheries authorities for further legal proceedings. (Newswire)

The post Navy arrests 47 Indian fishermen in the North appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy has rescued 04 Indian fishermen on a distressed fishing boat off the western coast of Sri Lanka on Sunday. 

According to the Navy, the coordinated Search and Rescue operation was conducted based on information from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.

The MRCC Mumbai in India had alerted its counterpart in Colombo about an Indian fishing boat that went missing, without any communication link, on 29 June due to severe weather conditions. 

Responding swiftly, the Sri Lanka Navy launched a dedicated Search and Rescue operation, deploying Fast Attack Craft from the Western Naval Command. 

The operation made way for the rescue of 04 Indian fishermen, who were stranded off Chilaw after their fishing boat encountered distress at sea. The fishermen were found to be residents of Minicoy Island, India. 

They were safely brought to Dikowita harbour, where the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard provided essential support. Following initial medical checks, the fishermen were handed over to the Wattala Police Station for further procedures.

This marks the second successful rescue of Indian fishermen by the Navy in collaboration with the MRCC, Colombo, within just two weeks. (Newswire) 

The post Navy rescues 04 Indian fishermen stranded off Chilaw appeared first on Newswire.

The thirteen Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday for illegally entering Sri Lankan waters in the seas off Kankesanthurai have been remanded. 

The Mallakam Magistrate’s Court remanded the fishermen until 10 February 2025, while two of the fishermen, who had sustained injuries, are receiving treatment at the Jaffna Hospital. 

The two Indian fishermen had been injured when the group of fishermen had attempted to seize the firearm of a Navy officer who was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding to seize their vessel.

Issuing a statement, the Sri Lanka Navy said the Northern Naval Command observed a cluster of Indian fishing boats poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Valvettithurai in Jaffna on Monday night.

Subsequently, the Northern Naval Command mounted a special operation to send away those fishing boats from the island waters, deploying naval craft. 

During this operation, the Navy seized an Indian fishing boat that had continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters, while engaging in illegal fishing activities, leading to the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen onboard the vessel.

The Sri Lanka Navy boarding team was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding as the Indian fishing boat continued to manoeuvre aggressively, without complying with the Navy’s lawful orders. 

However, while boarding the fishing boat, the Indian fishermen attempted to assault naval personnel and attempted to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, during which an accidental fire took place, causing minor injuries to two Indian fishermen.

The fishermen were taken into custody and handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal action.

India unequivocally criticised the incident, with its Ministry of External Affairs summoning the Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi and conveying displeasure over the firing.

Reiterating India’s long-standing policy, the ministry said there’s a “need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns”. (Newswire)

The post 13 Indian fishermen remanded in Sri Lanka appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Navy says two Indian fishermen had been injured when a group of fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters had attempted to seize the firearm of a Navy officer who was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding to seize the vessel.

Issuing a statement, the Sri Lanka Navy said the Northern Naval Command observed a cluster of Indian fishing boats poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Valvettithurai in Jaffna last night.

Subsequently, the Northern Naval Command mounted a special operation to send away those fishing boats from the island waters, deploying naval craft. 

During this operation, the Navy seized an Indian fishing boat that had continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters, while engaging in illegal fishing activities, leading to the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen onboard the vessel.

The Sri Lanka Navy boarding team was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding as the Indian fishing boat continued to manoeuvre aggressively, without complying with the Navy’s lawful orders. 

On this occasion, the Indian fishermen acted aggressively, manoeuvring their fishing boat in a hostile manner and behaving confrontationally with the Navy. 

However, while boarding the fishing boat, in accordance with the authority vested in the Navy, the Indian fishermen, as an organized group, attempted to assault naval personnel and attempted to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, endangering the lives of the naval personnel. In the process, an accidental fire has taken place, causing minor injuries to two Indian fishermen.

Following the incident, the Navy provided initial first aid to the two injured fishermen and promptly transferred them to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further treatment. The Navy said the hospital has confirmed that their condition is stable. 

Meanwhile, the Navy has lodged a complaint with the Kankesanthurai Police regarding the incident.

The seized Indian fishing boat and remaining fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai harbour this morning and handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal action. (Newswire)

The post Navy incident with Indian Fishermen : Navy tells what happened appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard seized two Indian fishing boats and apprehended 17 Indian fishermen during a special operation conducted in the sea area north of Mannar on the night of December 23, 2024, the Navy said.

The operation, part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to prevent illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters, was carried out by the Northern Naval Command and North Central Naval Command using Fast Attack Craft and Inshore Patrol Craft.

The fishermen were spotted engaging in illegal activities in Sri Lankan waters, and while some boats were driven away, two vessels and their crew were seized.

The arrested fishermen and seized boats were brought to the Talaimannar Pier and handed over to the Mannar Fisheries Inspector for legal proceedings.

According to the Navy, this operation brings the total number of Indian fishing boats seized by the Navy in 2024 to 72, with 554 Indian fishermen apprehended in island waters. (Newswire)

The post 17 Indian fishermen apprehended for poaching appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized an Indian trawler with eleven (11) fishermen onboard, for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. 

According to the Navy, the fishermen were arrested during a special operation conducted off Point Pedro in Jaffna on Thursday (Aug 23). The Northern Naval Command had spotted a cluster of Indian fishing trawlers engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. 

In response, Fast Attack Crafts belonging to the Command were deployed to send away those Indian fishing trawlers poaching off Point Pedro. The operation resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing trawler and the arrest of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized trawler together with the 11 Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour, with the fishermen expected to be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action.

The apprehension was part of the Navy’s continuous patrols and operations conducted in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

With this recent arrest, the Navy has seized a total of 45 Indian trawlers and 333 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2024. (Newswire)

The post 11 Indian fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 03 Indian trawlers and apprehended 13 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Delft Island in Jaffna today.

According to the Navy, the arrest was made during a special operation conducted together with the Coast Guard to deter Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters. 

The Navy and Coast Guard continue to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

As part of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft of the Navy and Coast Guard to chase away a group of Indian trawlers, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island. 

The 03 seized trawlers and 13 Indian fishermen arrested during the operation were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal proceedings.

With this arrest, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized a total of 35 Indian trawlers and arrested 252 Indian fishermen so far in 2024 for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. (Newswire)

The post 03 Indian trawlers with 13 fishermen seized for poaching in Sri Lankan waters appeared first on Newswire.

A Navy sailor has died after sustaining injuries during an operation to apprehend a group of Indian fishermen for poaching in seas off Delft Island today.

Sri Lanka Navy Media Director Captain Gayan Wickramasooriya told Newswire that the sailor had sustained injuries to his chest area after being struck by an iron bar on the Indian Trawler which had attempted to mislead the Navy.

The Navy Sailor injured during the operation had died upon admission to the hospital.

Captain Gayan Wickramasooriya further said that during the operation, ten (10) Indian fishermen in a trawler had been arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. 

So far in 2024, the Sri Lanka Navy has arrested over 200 Indian fishermen and seized more than 27 Indian trawlers for illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters. (Newswire)

The post Navy Sailor dies during operation to arrest Indian fishermen appeared first on Newswire.