Sri Lanka detains 34 Indian fishermen

Colombo: The Sri Lankan navy and Coast Guard have detained 34 Indian fishermen for straying into Sri Lankan waters, it was announced on Tuesday.

The fishermen were captured off Kankesanthurai, Thalaimannar and the Delft islands in the north of the island nation, Xinhua news agency reported. Seven Indian fishing trawlers were seized.

"The arrested fishermen along with the trawlers were brought to Kankesanthurai and Thalaimannar ... for onward action," the navy said.

The arrests came a day after Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said 86 Indian fishermen who were in Sri Lankan custody would be released and returned to India.

India and Sri Lanka are divided by a narrow strip of sea. Almost all fishermen from India who get arrested by Sri Lankan authorities are from Tamil Nadu.