Sri Lankan navy arrest 3 Tamil Nadu fishermen as tensions rise over fishing law

by Sivakami
Jul 9, 2017

The Sri Lankan navy on Saturday arrested three further Tamil Nadu fishermen for allegedly crossing into Sri Lankan waters, Colombo Page reported. 

Saturday's arrest follows the arrest of eight Tamil Nadu fishermen earlier this week, and comes amid heated exchanges over Sri Lanka's new fishing bill. 

On Friday the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappdi K Palaniswami, wrote to the Indian premier, Narenda Modi, expressing his concern about Sri Lanka's new fishing legislation which bans bottom trawling. 

Describing the legislation, which was adopted on Thursday, as a “harsh step to undermine the diplomatic efforts”, Mr Palaniswami said it was “aimed at preventing our fishermen from exercising their traditional fishing rights in the fishing waters."

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