NPC hails renewed efforts to resolve ‘Cross border’ issue

by P. Krishnaswamy

Commenting on tomorrow’s talks in Colombo between representatives of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishing communities on the fishermen’s “cross border’ issue, Minister of Fisheries, Trade, Rural Industries and Trade of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Balasubramaniam Deniswaran told the Sunday Observer that the NPC wholeheartedly welcomed the renewed efforts of the Government and the Council would extend its unconditional support for the success of the talks.

On assuming office in October 2013 as Minister in-charge of Fisheries, he took the initiative for the team, led by Chief Minister (CM) C.V. Wigneswaran, to visit India and meet the Indian authorities Tamil Nadu CM Ms Jayalalithaa Jayaram, government officials and representatives of the fishing communities to sort out the long-festering poaching issue.

But they deferred the decision because the central government had initiated steps to resolve the issue through government-level talks, Deniswaran said.

Fishers of the Northern province are totally opposed to Indian fishermen poaching in their territorial fishing waters since their prohibited methods of fishing had deprived them of their livelihood while depleting the fertile marine resources, he said.

This was one of the issues which the NPC wanted to work in unison and coordination with the central government and they would appreciate if PC representatives are also included in future talks, the PC Minister said.