Sri Lankan Navy arrests seven Rameswaram fishermen near Mannar
Seven fishermen were apprehended for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line in the northern maritime waters.
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested seven fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, 2026. According to reports from The New Indian Express and The Hindu, the fishermen were apprehended for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters near the Katchatheevu islet and Mannar North.
The fishermen were on a mechanised boat owned by J John Mervin of Anthoniarpuram in Thangachimadam. The vessel was intercepted at approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday and taken to the Mannar Naval Camp for further legal proceedings and questioning.
The arrested individuals have been identified as S Plasius (41), S Alagu Pandi (22), A Antony Pitchai (33), J Rabeen (21), A Nelson (58), R Arulananda Xavier (65), and A Sahaya Anand (34).
Fisheries department officials stated that around 398 mechanised fishing boats had ventured out from the Rameswaram fishing harbour on Saturday, October 31. The fishermen were scheduled to return to the shores on Sunday evening.
Rameswaram Fishermen Association President N Devadas expressed distress over the incident, noting that more than 400 boats had gone out for fishing on Saturday after a four-day period where they could not venture into the sea due to a cyclone warning. Devadas urged the government to intervene to prevent the arrest of fishermen and the confiscation of their boats.