Marked improvement in bringing back Lankan fishermen

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

There is tremendous improvement in bringing back Sri Lankan fishermen caught in Indian waters without undergoing a judicial process, following talks between the Sri Lankan and Indian Governments recently, Fisheries Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the Sunday Observer.

He said the recent release of Sri Lankan fishermen who had entered Indian waters was a direct result of the negotiations between the two Governments.

The Minister said that according to UN Conventions fishermen cannot be charged in courts.

He said this week alone 42 fishermen and 10 fishing vessels had entered Indian waters due to various reasons. The Sri Lanka Navy helped repatriate them after they were handed over to the Navy by the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line between the two countries.

The fishermen returned to Sri Lanka on August 16 and 18 via the Kankesanthurai harbour and Thalaimannar.

Minister Senaratne said that the Fisheries Ministry sent two delegations from the North East Fishermen’s Union along with fisheries Ministry officials for discussions with the Indian Fishermen’s Unions to reach consensus on the issue of poaching. Minister Senaratne said the installation of the Vessel Monitoring System at the Fisheries Ministry will also help monitor the vessels crossing the Indian border giving them warning signals when entering Indian waters.

“We will install that system by the end of this year as negotiations are progressing on this matter”, the Minister said.