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Trespassing of Indian fishers declines after mid-sea protest

11 Nov 2021

BY Dinitha Rathnayake  Only a few bottom trawling boats from India have reached the Northern waters of Sri Lanka after the mid-sea protest held on 17 October and a meeting held between local fishers, Northern politicos and the Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, according to All Island Fisheries Association (AIFA) Convenor Rathna Gamage. “Around 1,500 bottom trawling boats from India reached Sri Lanka’s Northern seas weekly, where about 8,000 came each month; however, after the said protest and the meeting with Baglay in Colombo, this number has decreased notably.”  Northern fishermen took approximately 1,000 boats out to sea to participate in a large-scale protest on 17 October, extending from the seas of Mullaitivu to Point Pedro in the Northern Province, against what they termed was the inaction of Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda over the issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan seas. Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam alleged that Devananda has not taken any action or steps to prevent the encroaching of Indian fishermen into Sri Lankan waters. “We protested from Mullaitivu to Point Pedro in boats against the inaction of Devananda. Why is he being silent on this matter? This is an issue that directly affects all fishermen here,” Rasamanickam said during the protest. Speaking to The Morning, Rasamanickam said on Wednesday (10) November that the Indian trawler issue is so far under control after the protest. Northern Sri Lankan fishermen held a sea rally, demanding that Sri Lanka implement its laws against bottom trawling, a destructive fishing method that erodes the seabed, endangering marine life. Dozens of boats with black flags travelled 100 kilometres from the north eastern Ttwn of Mullaitivu to Point Pedro in Jaffna, with some Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians joining the protest. The meeting with Baglay in Colombo was successful, according to Rasamanickam. On 1 November, Baglay had assured Sri Lanka’s Northern fishermen that he would convey their concerns over bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait to both New Delhi and Tamil Nadu and look at some immediate measures to address the problem. A delegation of fisher leaders from Sri Lanka’s northern districts, along with TNA Spokesman and Parliamentarian President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, met Baglay in Colombo on 1 November, and voiced concerns over the “delay in India’s response” to the issue of bottom trawling in the Palk Strait. The meeting was consequent to a recent discussion held when Baglay called on TNA Leader and MP R. Sampanthan.  “However, it is not only Indian boats as there are around 500 Sri Lankan boats who do bottom trawling,” according to Sumanthiran, who revealed this in Parliament. He also alleged that these boats offer Rs. 5,000 each day to Devananda and that the total amount he is thereby earning per day is Rs 2.5 million.  Fishermen from Tamil Nadu crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters, using the harmful bottom trawling fishing method, has been a recurring flashpoint in India-Sri Lanka maritime ties.  


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