Amaraweera demands:

Curb poaching by TN fishermen

By Chathuri Dissanayake

The responsibility of restraining Indian fishermen encroaching Sri Lankan seas lies with India. However, if Indian fishermen are ready to give up bottom trawling, Sri Lanka would permit Indians to fish in the country’s territorial waters to a certain extent, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Mahinda Amaraweera said.

The minister is scheduled to visit India in May, on the invitation of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Suwaraj to discuss the issue.

“India also has a responsibility to check this issue. These fishermen come without the knowledge of the Indian Coast Guard. Our aim is to get them to address this issue and arrest them when they cross the border,” he said.

The minister said he would discuss a number of proposals with his Indian counterpart to arrive at an amicable solution.

He said he would not speak to Tamil Nadu politicians because he feels the issue has been aggravated by them. Most of the boats confiscated by Sri Lanka belong to these politicians. “The politicians have been exerting a lot of pressure on the Sri Lankan government to release the boats. However, the boats will not be released,” Amaraweera said.

The biggest issue regarding encroachment is the practice of bottom trawling, by Indian fishermen which destroys the seabed and all fisheries resources in the area. “If Indian fishermen are ready give up this practice, Sri Lanka can give permission to fish in its territorial waters to a certain extent.” However, Sri Lanka will not tolerate bottom trawling, he said.