Twenty-one Indian fishermen accused of poaching have been repatriated to Chennai by the Sri Lankan government, India's High Commission in Sri Lanka said.
Ties between India and Sri Lanka are often affected by contentious fishing issues, with the island navy often arresting and even firing at Indian fishermen and seizing their boats, alleging that they illegally entered Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating India's Tamil Nadu state from Sri Lanka, is a rich waterway for fishermen from both countries.
According to reports, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers, for alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2023.