Tue Jan 28 15:14:38 IST 2025: ## India Protests Sri Lankan Navy’s Actions After Fishermen Injured in Firing Incident

**Colombo, Sri Lanka –** India has lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka after a Sri Lankan Navy operation resulted in several Indian fishermen being injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, January 28, 2025, when the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended Indian fishing vessels accused of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that two fishermen suffered serious injuries and are receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, while three others sustained minor injuries. The MEA summoned the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner to Delhi to express its strong disapproval of the use of force. The Indian Consulate in Jaffna is providing assistance to the injured fishermen. The MEA emphasized the need for humane treatment of fishermen and adherence to existing bilateral understandings.

The Sri Lankan Navy offered a different account, claiming the Indian fishermen acted aggressively, attempting to assault naval personnel and seize a firearm. They stated that an accidental discharge of a firearm resulted in the injuries. The Navy reported seizing an Indian fishing boat and accusing the fishermen of poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Valvettithurai, Jaffna.

This incident is the latest escalation in the long-standing conflict over fishing rights in the Palk Strait. Over 540 Indian fishermen were arrested in 2024 for illegal fishing, with over 60 arrested so far this January. Sri Lankan fishermen have also expressed concerns about the destructive bottom trawling methods used by some Indian fishermen.

While a joint statement following President Dissanayake’s visit to India in December 2024 emphasized the need to avoid violence and find a lasting solution, this latest incident highlights the ongoing tensions and the need for a resolution to the persistent fisheries dispute between India and Sri Lanka.

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