India assures no entry of fishing vessels

by P. Krishnaswamy

In an effort to resolve the fishermen's trans-border problem, India has agreed that their fishing vessels will not enter Sri Lanka's specific coastline areas and on the other hand, Sri Lanka will not fire at Indian fishing vessels.

The agreement was reached at the recent New Delhi discussions between Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, according to a India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement on 'fishing arrangements'. It was also agreed that 'Indian fishing vessels would carry valid registration/permit and the fishermen would have on person valid identity cards issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu.'

The joint statement says that: "Keeping in mind the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of the fishermen issue, India and Sri Lanka agreed to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

"As part of these practical arrangements, following the designation by the Government of Sri Lanka of sensitive areas along the Sri Lankan coastline and their intimation to the Government of India, Indian fishing vessels will not venture into these identified sensitive areas.

"India and Sri Lanka have agreed to continue with their discussions, initiated in 2005, on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on development and cooperation in the field of fisheries."

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources G. Piyasena told the Sunday Observer that there are 110 apprehended Sri Lankan fishermen in India and of them 28 have already been released by the Indian authorities. The 28 fishermen are in Chennai under the care of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner but there is a delay to bring them back to the country because their six fishing vessels have not been released due to a delay in completing the formalities, he said. Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Felix Perera sent his representative to meet the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo to persuade him to expedite the procedure, Piyasena said.

He also said "funds needed for the upkeep of the Sri Lankan fishermen in Tamil Nadu have already been released to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai. Negotiations are under way to secure the release of the remaining fishing vessels in India."