By Skandha Gunasekara
The Sri Lankan Government has called on the Indian Government to monitor and prevent Indian fishermen encroaching in Lankan waters.
State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Freshwater Fish and Shrimp Farming Development, Multiday Fishing and Fish Export Kanchana Wijesekera said that requests had been made to the Indian Government at the highest level. “Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa discussed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their virtual summit three months ago.”
He said that Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda had made a more recent call as well.
“Minister Devananda spoke with his Indian counterpart and made a request to ensure Indian fishermen don’t cross over to Lankan waters.”
He said that Indian fishermen were taking advantage of the Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka to poach in Lankan waters.
“We cannot detain the Indian fishermen once arrested because of the high Covid-19 cases among them. Therefore, we have to release them once arrested.”
State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Freshwater Fish and Shrimp Farming Development, Multiday Fishing and Fish Export Kanchana Wijesekera said that requests had been made to the Indian Government at the highest level. “Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa discussed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their virtual summit three months ago.”
He said that Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda had made a more recent call as well.
“Minister Devananda spoke with his Indian counterpart and made a request to ensure Indian fishermen don’t cross over to Lankan waters.”
He said that Indian fishermen were taking advantage of the Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka to poach in Lankan waters.
“We cannot detain the Indian fishermen once arrested because of the high Covid-19 cases among them. Therefore, we have to release them once arrested.”