Fishermen
Representative image.Reuters

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 15 Indian fishermen and captured their three fishing boats for allegedly entering into Lankan waters near Katchatheevu.

The Navy took the fishermen and the boats owned by Britto, Kudbuddin and Nizamudin to Talaimannar coast, police said, quoting Fishermen's Association President Emirit and Sesuraja, reports PTI. 

Several fishermen in 734 boats had gone for fishing in the sea on Monday evening. Poor visibility forced them to stray into Sri Lankan territory. 

The Navy personnel said Indian fishermen were not allowed near Katchatheevu, though under the 1974 agreement by which India ceded the islet to Sri Lanka, Indian fishermen were entitled to dry their nets there.