Sri Lanka, India navies discuss maritime issues of mutual interest

[Holmes]

Sri Lanka, India navies discuss maritime issues of mutual interest

July 06, Kankasanthurei: The Navies of Sri Lanka and India discussed a range of maritime issues at the bilateral International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting held today in the seas off of Kankasanthurei.

The 21st International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between Sri Lanka and India was held onboard the Sri Lanka Naval Ship Sagara at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Kankasanthurei today (July 06).

During this meeting, matters of mutual interests related to naval operations and fishing activities were discussed.

The navies of the two countries meet biannually aiming at strengthening the naval relationship between the two neighboring countries.

The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, consisted of Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard officials. The Indian delegation consisted of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard officials.

The meeting comes at a time both navies are trying to find a solution to handle the issue of fishermen from both India and Sri Lanka trespassing into each other's territorial waters. The recent arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy was in the agenda, according to Indian sources.

Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka, India navies discuss maritime issues of mutual interest

 

[Uncle_Sam]

I Hope Amma Ji, won't Poke her nose in this matter

 

[KRAIT]

I Hope Amma Ji, won't Poke her nose in this matter

They always put local politics over national interest and strategic collaboration.

 

[Holmes]

Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody and the vice versa happen all the time. if the two govt. can come up with a treaty or something, It'd be good for the life of fishermen here. Besides that increasing chinese presence in lankan affairs is also something to watch out.

 

[Sashan]

They always put local politics over national interest and strategic collaboration.

Sorry mate - Again repeating here as a cliche - again it is not local politics - Katchatheevu island illegal transfer to SL and hundreds of fishermen killing. Lets treat for a moment the killing of hundreds of fishermen as a local issue for discussions sake(and I am pained to say here that is what many Indians have reflected here).



I will play the devil's advocate here for a moment(as it is my personal opinion on compromising on Akshai Chin itself) and lets see what is your view on this.

If Katchatheevu transfer to settle border issues is fine because you do not want China in SL, in the national interests, why not grant Akshai Chin to China (which itself is not with India and is a wasteland for India while for China, it helps connect Xin Jiang with Tibet and is crucial for them) and settle the border issue with China?(afterall China has raised the issue of South Tibet in the recent years to put pressure on India to settle the Akshai Chin quickly). This will reduce 1000s of crores of military budget we spend/going to spend for the Indo China border and could avoid China in SL altogether.