He was speaking at a function at the Kalamatiya fisheries harbour.

Indian fishermen were using banned fishing methods to carry out their poaching, thereby causing harm to corals and other sea creatures, he said.

On 10 and 11 of January, Amaraweera visited Jaffna and Mannar and inquired into the problems of the fisher community there.

Navy told to deal with Indian boats

He also observed during a sea trip with the Navy how hundreds of Indian fishing boats were poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

He ordered the Navy and the coastguard to arrest the offenders, and even to shoot if they disobeyed orders.

However, the guns of the Naval boats patrolling the northern seas have been ‘sealed’.

Therefore, Indian fishermen ignore the Navy and even threaten them on occasions, the minister said.

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