The new Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena reiterated this week that he had ordered the Sri Lankan navy to arrest any Indian fishermen who cross the maritime border.
Rejecting comments made by the Sri Lankan opposition that the new government had given permission to Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters, Mr Sirisena told members of the fisheries industry on Thursday that he had given "clear instructions" to arrest such fishermen.
"We have not allowed fishing in our waters for the Indians. I have given clear instructions to navy to arrest boats or trawlers that violate our water limits," Mr Sirisena was quoted by PTI as saying.
Pointing to recent bilateral discussions that took place last month in Chennai between the two countries, Mr Sirisena added: "I discussed at length the fishing issue between our two countries during my visit to India [in February]. I want to resolve this issue without hurting our long standing bilateral relations with Indians not allowed to fish in Lankan waters."
"We have asked the Indians to stop bottom trawling," he added.
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