Fishermen say 2-3 boats lose their nets within a day

The protesters have urged the Indian authorities to stop Indian fishermen “from robbing their resources and driving them to starvation,” said Sri Lanka government's official website.

Members of six trade unions joined the protest with pieces of fishing nets destroyed by Indian trawler boats.

Sandiyapillai Seemanpillai told BBC Sandeshaya that Sri Lankan fishermen are prevented from making their living as a result of Indian fishermen entering into Sri Lankan waters.

Fishing nets 'destroyed'

“Two or three boats a day come back without their fishing nets,” he said.

Representatives of Jaffna fishermen have handed over a petition to Government Agent (GA) Emelda Sukumar and the Jaffna Security Forces on Sunday.

The Sri Lanka government last week released 136 Indian fishermen arrested in two occasions after intense diplomatic pressure from India.

Jaffna magistrate Nandasekeran has last week written to the Chief Justice Asoka de Silva complaining of undue pressure on the judiciary by the Indian Consul General in Jaffna, V Mahalingam.

The relatives of Sri Lankan fishermen in Indian custody, meanwhile, protested in Chilaw on Saturday urging Sri Lankan authorities to intervene in getting them released.