Sri Lanka: ‘Indian trawlers back in huge numbers’

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India's puppet government in Sri Lanka will do nothing. Not only that, they are planning to release impounded trawlers as well. It's pathetic how a supposed "super power" with a supposedly burgeoning economy wants to steal the resources of smaller countries.

‘Indian trawlers back in huge numbers’

Earlier, Sri Lankan Navy acted promptly, but now they are reluctant to arrest the poaching Indian fishermen, Jaffna-based fisher leaders say.

More Indian trawlers have been allegedly fishing near the northern coastline of Sri Lanka over the past two weeks, Jaffna-based fisher leaders say.

The fishermen from both sides got into a tussle at sea recently, after the nets of those from the northern region of the island nation were damaged. “There was a major problem in Vadamarachchi a couple of days ago when our nets had been damaged by the Indian trawlers,” said Josephpillai Sinthathurai, a fisherman based in Madagal in northern Jaffna.

“Earlier, the [Sri Lankan] Navy took action promptly, but now they seem reluctant to arrest Indian fishermen who are poaching,” he said. When contacted, Navy spokesperson Kosala Warnakulasooriya said: “We received no such complaint from the fishermen.”

In the past few days, northern fishermen suffered damages ranging from Sri Lankan rupees 75,000 to 1 lakh, Mr. Sinthathurai said. “Most of us have already borrowed heavily to make ends meet. With the unceasing problem of Indian trawlers poaching in our waters, our livelihoods have been badly hit,” he said.

The fisherfolk are helpless as the Navy is silent, says Nataraja Rathnaraja, a fisher cooperative leader in Mayilitythurai in the Jaffna peninsula.

Fishermen attributed the Navy’s “inaction” to the high-level bilateral visits coming up in the two countries. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to visit India from February 15 to 17, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Sri Lanka in mid-March. The Sri Lankan side is also working on releasing the 87 Indian trawlers in its custody. The trawlers are expected to be released in the coming week, ahead of the President’s visit.Officials in decision-making circles in Colombo told The Hindu, on condition of anonymity, that they would be lenient on Indian fishermen found poaching, considering the upcoming high-level visits aimed at improving relations between India and Sri Lanka. No official complaint about Indian trawlers fishing in Sri Lankan waters has so far been made to the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

‘Indian trawlers back in huge numbers’ - The Hindu

 

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Indo-Lanka fishing dispute flares again; urgent moves to defuse crisis

Diplomatic contacts between Colombo and New Delhi intensified yesterday after a clash between fishermen of the two countries, some five nautical miles off Point Pedro.

The incident had taken place in the Palk Strait where nearly 40 Sri Lankan fishing boats were operating. A fleet of Indian trawlers which were engaged in illegal bottom trawling had confronted the local group damaging their boats and nets, according to a source at Navy Headquarters. The estimated damage was more than Rs. 4 million.

The Foreign Ministry in Colombo got in touch with New Delhi to ensure that the clash did not get out of control.

This is particularly in the light of President Maithripala Sirisena’s two-day state visit to New Delhi beginning February 16.

The Sri Lanka Navy has been advised to take measures to ensure the safety of fishermen within the country’s territorial waters defined by an International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Colombo has apprised New Delhi that these measures are being taken to ensure there is no further tension between the two sides.

Meanwhile as a goodwill sign ahead of President Sirisena’s visit to India next week, both governments are working closely to release fishing boats in their custody, a senior official of the Fisheries Ministry said yesterday.

Fisheries Ministry Secretary Nimal Hettiarachchi said he hoped the fishing boats of both countries would be released before President Sirisena’s visit.

Currently there are 87 Indian trawlers in Sri Lanka’s custody while 22 Sri Lankan boats have been detained in India. All of these boats were taken into custody for illegal poaching.

Meanwhile Deputy Fisheries Director Lal De Silva will leave for Chennai next week to conclude the paperwork regarding the release of 22 Sri Lankan boats from Indian custody.

Indo-Lanka fishing dispute flares again; urgent moves to defuse crisis | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

 

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Sirisena at helm brings hopes to Rameswaram fishermen

The change of regime in Sri Lanka has brought cheers to the Rameswaram fishermen as they could enjoy a hassle free fishing in the Palk Bay ever since Maithripala Sirisena assumed office as President in early January.

Sirisena at helm brings hopes to Rameswaram fishermen - The Hindu

 

[Gibbs]

Starting better diplomatic relations does not mean they need to give these poachers from Tamil Nadu the right to rob the countries marine resources.. The govt need to put a stop to this immediately.. Arrest these thieves.. Or people will do the needful come the elections..

Lets see how the govt reacts to these TN thieves and more importantly how the Indian govt reacts if they want better relations

 

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Will Sirisena bring good news to Tamil Nadu fishermen?

RAMESWARAM: Fishermen in Tamil Nadu hope that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will announce a decision to release 87 Indian boats ahead or during his visit to India starting next week.

S Venugopal, president of Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen, said it would be a great relief to fishermen if the new Sri Lankan President decided to release the boats. "But the objective of apprehending boats is to cripple fishermen from venturing into waters, and we are not sure if the new government in that country is benevolent enough to release the boats," he opined.

Indian trawlers recently destroyed the fishing nets of Sri Lankan fishermen, and fishermen in Northern part of Sri Lanka a protested against the incident. Tamil Nadu Fishermen fear this incident would deter the Sri Lankan government from taking a positive decision.

U Arulanandam of the Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen said there were positive reports from authorities about the release of boats. Possibly boat owners may be summoned to Lankan courts to redeem their boats, he said.

"The challenge is many boat owners don't possess a passport or manage visa proceedings. We are planning to appeal to Sri Lankan and Indian authorities to release the boats without these formalities", he said.

Will Sirisena bring good news to Tamil Nadu fishermen? - The Times of India