Indian Fisherman Jailed for GPS-aided Illegal Entry into Sea of Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Kytes Magistrate's Court today (22) convicted an Indian fisherman of illegally entering the Sea of Sri Lanka using GPS equipment and sentenced him to six months in prison.

This brings the total number of Indian fishermen imprisoned for similar offenses to four in the past week.

On February 8th, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 19 Indian fishermen and two boats off the Delft coast. 

They were were produced to Kytes Magistrate Gajanidhibalan on for a hearing.

Charge sheets were filed against all individuals, and the magistrate ordered the confiscation of one vessel due to the owner's presence during the offense.

The Kytes Magistrate sentenced the skipper of the other vessel to six months' imprisonment for illegally entering Sri Lankan waters using GPS.

The remaining crew received suspended sentences of 18 months, resulting in their release.

On February 16th, the Kytes Magistrate sentenced two Indian fishermen caught using GPS to navigate fishing vessels within the Sea of Sri Lanka, to six months in prison.

Additionally, a fisherman apprehended for a second border violation received a one-year prison sentence.

In response to these arrests and imprisonments, fishermen in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, launched a strike and it entered its sixth day, today.

They have declared their intention to boycott the Kachchatheevu festival, scheduled to begin tomorrow, as a further protest measure.