The coastguard of the Maldives has captured four Sri Lankan fishing boats in the Maldives, just three weeks after former President Nasheed suggested opening Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to neighboring countries.
MNDF captured the first two boats on Thursday at 11:30 pm 103 nautical miles off Ha.Kelaa. The coastguard spotted two other boats while they were escorting the first two boats to Kulhudhuhfushi. They were spotted around at 2:30 am.
Coast Guard ship Huravee escorted the four boats to Kulhudhuhfushi on Friday night.
Sri Lanka is the biggest competitor of Maldives in the fisheries industry and Sri Lankan vessels trespass Maldivian waters from time to time.
