The Sri Lankan Navy continued to infringe on Indian fishermen’s traditional fishing rights, which appeared to be challenging the nation, Chief Minister M K Stalin told the Centre on Thursday, seeking effective counter measures.
Writing to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, Stalin drew his attention to the arrest of 14 fishermen and seizure of their mechanised boat by the Lankan Navy on November 16. In this year alone, 198 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by the neighbouring country.
The frequent imprisonments of fishermen, seizure of their boats and damage caused to vessels by the Sri Lankan Navy have shattered the livelihood of many fishermen who are totally dependent on fishing, Stalin said.
Even after repeated appeals from the Indian side, arrest of fishermen continue to take place and presently, 100 boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen are held by Sri Lanka. The Chief Minister reiterated that the government of Tamil Nadu is keen on protecting the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen.
“The Sri Lankan Navy’s continued act of infringements upon the traditional rights of our fishermen in the Palk Bay area appear like a challenge to India,” Stalin told Jaishankar.
“I request that the diplomatic steps required in this regard may kindly be taken so that it does not recur.
I request you to direct the authorities concerned to take effective steps for the early release of all the fishermen and their fishing boats that were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy.”
An official statement from the Navy on Thursday said that Sri Lanka Navy has arrested 14 Indian fishermen and a trawler for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
The Navy said they were arrested off the coast of Vettilaikerni in the northern Jaffna district on Wednesday.
“Sri Lanka Navy has stepped up its patrols and operations in Sri Lanka’s waters to curb illegal fishing practices of fishing trawlers”, the Navy said.
A report from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu said that an Indian fisherman, identified as Johnson, sustained injuries to his eye after being allegedly attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy during the operation.
The Navy mentioned that a total of 228 Indian fishermen and 30 trawlers had been seized so far this year.
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Illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters by Indian fishermen has been a recurrent problem despite many high-level talks held between the two sides.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with the Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan’s territorial waters.
The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.
There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
