COLOMBO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lanka Navy arrested 11 Indian fishermen for alleged illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on Thursday night, the navy said.
Navy Media Spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath told the media on Friday that the suspects were arrested off Jaffna in the country's Northern Province during a search operation.
He said the fishermen were taken to the Kankesanturai Naval Base and will be handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for further investigations.
The navy said it continues to carry out regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to prevent illegal fishing by foreign vessels, citing its impact on the livelihoods of local fishermen. ■