Colombo: A day after 25 Indian fishermen were arrested, Sri Lanka today said no one had the right to enter its territorial waters, indicating that future arrests were possible despite recent talks to resolve the thorny issue.
Addressing the media on his visit to New Delhi last week, Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said, “There was a suggestion from some quarters that we should refrain from arresting. I told them (Indian side) talks have no link with our right to prevent illegal fishing.”
Senaratne had met his Indian counterpart Sharad Pawar to thrash out a solution to the recurring problem of illegal fishing and continued arrests of fishermen from both nations. The two countries also decided to release over 400 fishermen.
However, the Sri Lankan Navy yesterday again arrested 25 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in the northern waters.
So far, both India and Sri Lanka have released 52 fishermen each.
