Wed Jul 02 09:36:58 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewritten version as a news article, focusing on the key points:

**Summary:**

The long-standing Palk Bay fisheries conflict continues to strain relations between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities have warned they will continue to arrest Indian fishermen found poaching in their waters, especially those using the destructive bottom-trawling method. This issue impacts the livelihoods of both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen. While both countries have attempted to find solutions, progress has been slow, and local fishing communities are calling for renewed dialogue to resolve the conflict.

**News Article:**

**Sri Lanka Warns of Continued Arrests as Palk Bay Fishing Dispute Escalates**

**Colombo – July 2, 2025** – Sri Lankan authorities are taking a hard line on illegal fishing in their territorial waters, warning they will continue to arrest Indian fishermen found poaching, specifically those employing the destructive bottom-trawling method. Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, stated unequivocally that there would be “no room for leniency” for those trespassing into Sri Lankan waters.

The minister highlighted the detrimental impact of bottom trawling on the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen, particularly in the war-affected northern regions of the country. He noted a recent increase in Indian fishing activity following the end of the annual two-month fishing ban in Tamil Nadu, India. Since the ban’s end on June 14th, at least 19 Indian fishermen have been arrested.

“We are taking up this issue with the Indian side as well,” Chandrasekar emphasized.

The decades-old Palk Bay fisheries conflict has pitted fishermen from both countries against each other, often resulting in arrests and seized vessels. While India and Sri Lanka established a ‘Joint Working Group’ in 2016 to address the issue and expedite a transition away from bottom trawling, progress has been minimal.

Local fishing communities on both sides of the Palk Strait are feeling the strain. K. Rajachandran, a leader of a federation of fisher groups in Karainagar, Sri Lanka, lamented the impact of Indian trawlers on their catch and sales, especially as fishermen are already struggling.

Annalingam Annarasa, Secretary of Kayts Fishermen Cooperative Society, urged the governments to resume talks between fisher leaders from both sides, stating, “This is a long-persisting problem, and we don’t seem to be nearing a solution. The government must organise talks soon so we can discuss ways to resolve this.” The situation remains tense as Sri Lanka reinforces its naval presence in the region.

(C) 2025 The Hindu.

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