Sri Lankan Navy arrested five fishermen from Tamil Nadu when they were fishing around Lankan waters near Neduntheevu early today. The fishermen were taken to Kankesanthurai for questioning according to local fishermen sources. Sri Lankan Navy also detained one fishing boat. <br/><br/>The arrest of five fishermen from Pudukottai Jagadapattinam early today has caused tension in fishermen hamlets of Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka released fifty one fishermen lodged in Lankan jail last month. The fishermen were released as per decision made in joint working group meeting held at Colombo. <br/><br/>However Sri Lanka continues to detain 118 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen. This has badly affected the livelihood of fishermen. Local fishermen are urging the government to secure the release of fishermen lodged in Lankan jail and ensure the release of fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka.<br/><br/>A Sri Lankan navy statement today said the arrests happened in seas off Delft island in northern province. The arrested fishermen have been handed over to fisheries department in Jaffna for onward legal action. With this, the total number of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody has gone up to 25. A total of 137 fishing boats are also in Sri Lankan custody.<br/>The fishermen issue has been lingering between the two countries for long. Both countries have decided to set up a Joint Working Group to resolve the issue. The ministerial meeting held in Colombo last month had reached an understanding to ensure that there was no physical harm or loss of life while arresting fishermen for poaching into each other's waters. <br/><br/>Both sides have also decided to ope rationalize a hotline between the two coast guards and to set up a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to release the fishermen in each other's custody.