News
Massive protest by some 8000 Lankan fishermen against Minister’s concession to India
More than forty Jaffna district fishermen’s associations with a membership totalling about 8000 will drag their fishing boats to the road in protest against Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda’s proposal to allow Indian fishermen to engage in fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
Fishermen’s association representatives told the Sunday Times there would be a discussion today on the minister’s move to allow ‘small Indian boats’ to engage in fishing in Sri Lankan waters under a licensing system.
They said this would be a direct hit on their livelihood and on Sri Lanka’s economy, while making a mockery of the IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line) separating India and Sri Lanka. It would also lead to bribery and corruption among officials and politicians in the issue of licences.
Fishermen’s Association spokesman N. Varnagulasingam said the local fishermen had smaller boats and engaged in seasonal fishing. Any decision to grant permits to Indians would affect their livelihoods. Kayts Fishermen’s Association secretary A. Annarasa said it would not be possible to monitor the Indian boats if permission was granted for a few Indian boats to enter Sri Lankan waters legally.
The protests have come in the wake of Minister Devananda’s proposal which came as a solution to illegal poaching by Indian fishermen and the indulgence in illegal fishing practices. The Minister’s proposal came shortly after Indian State Minister for Fisheries L. Murugan recent Jaffna visit during which he opened the newly built Indian Cultural Centre in Jaffna.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry told the Sunday Times that talks were continuing with the Indian Government on resolving the fisheries issue. “We want them to ensure that bottom trawling is completely prohibited so that the marine life is protected”.
Northern Fishermen’s Associations were of the view that the Government was caving into the Indian Government’s pressure and complained the Sri Lankan fishermen would suffer because of this.
Fisheries Minister Devananda said the proposal to grant permits was a measure to reduce the tension between the fishermen on both sides, by preventing bottom trawling taking place off the northern seas.
He said President Ranil Wickremesinghe was due to take up the issue during a visit to India shortly.
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