Sri Lankan Navy detains four Indian fishermen ahead of bilateral talks

At least four Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy off the Northern Jaffna peninsula coast ahead of a ministerial- level bilateral talks in New Delhi scheduled on Wednesday to solve the sensitive issue.

The Lanka navy said the fishermen were arrested on charges of fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters off the coast of Delft islet early this morning with their trawler seized as well.

The arrested Indian fishermen were handed over to the fisheries inspectorate at Karaingar, Jaffna, by Sri Lankan naval coast guard vessel Elara, the navy added.

The arrests were confirmed by Fishermen's Association President Sagayam in Rameswaram.

The arrests have come ahead of the scheduled talks on Wednesday between Indian and Sri Lanka fishermen to solve the recurring dispute over the arrest of fishermen. A 10-member Lankan fishing association delegation will arrive in India for the talks.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera and Lankan Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. These talks are to be preceded by talks between the fishermen associations of the two countries.