By Ranil Wijepala
The Navies of Sri Lanka and India had extensive discussion on the issue of strengthening the maritime security in the Palk Strait with a view to stop human smuggling, drug trafficking and other illegal activities, during the routine biannual International Maritime Boundary Line meeting held on board an Indian Navy ship on Wednesday, Navy Spokesman Captain Athula Senerath told the Sunday Observer online.
"The ways and means of improving the coordination between the two Navies to strengthen the security of Palk Strait was discussed at length at this meeting", he added.
He said the hours long discussion between the Sri Lanka Navy and the Indian Navy on board INS Kurki ended successfully with the two countries agreeing to have extensive awareness programme among the fishermen from both countries to educate about territorial waters of each country as a solution for the poaching of fishermen.
Captain Senerath said although the conduct of awareness programmes among the fishermen was on the agenda of the two countries it has not given much priority during the past few years.
"At this IMBL meeting the Navies of the two countries agreed to conduct these awareness programmes to educate the fishermen about the International Maritime Boundary Line between the two countries on priority basis", he added.
He said a delegation of eight Navy officers headed by Deputy Chief of Staff and the Northern Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Susith Weerasekera and representatives from the Northern, Eastern, North Eastern Naval areas and from the Navy headquarters participated at this meeting.
The Indian delegation comprise of nine officers headed by Commodore Raji Girotra, Naval Officer in Command Tuticoron participated at this meeting.