Sri Lankan Navy arrests two Indian fishermen near Katchatheevu

Two fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching in the early hours of Thursday (March 12, 2026).

According to sources, J. Minitto Rayappan, 26, and R. Sumanthan, 29, of Thangachimadam had ventured into the sea on Wednesday (March 11). As they were reportedly fishing near the Katchatheevu and Mannar islets, Sri Lankan Navy personnel on surveillance duty picked them up. Their trawler was also impounded.

They were taken to the naval port in Talaimannar for further interrogation, Fisheries Department officials here said, and added that on March 11, they had issued 422 tokens from the Rameswaram fish landing centre.

As news of the arrest of the two fishermen broke, members of the coastal habitations expressed shock. Fishermen leaders said that the Union government should come to their aid and help bring the two arrested persons back home, along with the trawler.