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Both Government and Opposition legislators raised serious concerns about the intrusion into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters by Indian fishermen, as well as the harassment of local fishermen at the hands of Indian authorities, during a Parliamentary debate on Tuesday.

Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda who began the debate on the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Bill which aims to fulfill certain international obligations under conventions ratified by Sri Lanka, said that he represents the part of this country “where international norms and rules are blatantly violated by the intruding fishermen from our neighbouring country.”

“These intruders not only illegally enter our territorial waters but also use internationally banned fishing methods such as bottom trawling and mono-filament nets (thangus nets) destroying corals and sea plants including the continental shelf, and also disturbing by diverting the direction of the natural and free movements of marine organisms,” he said.

Minister Devananda added that this has drastically affected the livelihoods of the Northern fishermen and continues despite repeated attempts by him to resolve the issue through discussions. Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Sunil Handunnetti said that fishermen from other countries violate Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary and local fishermen are helpless to fight them

“Local fishermen, especially in the North and East, have been badly affected by the intrusion of Indian fishermen. Some of the northern fishermen tell us that when the LTTE was there, they were able to engage in fishing more freely,” he said.
Social Welfare Senior Minister Milroy Fernando who represents the Puttalam District, said that fishermen from Wennappuwa and Nattandiya areas have been arrested by the Indian authorities. “There must be clear demarcation of our maritime borders. You can place buoys and make that demarcation. We have to ensure that the livelihoods of our fishermen are safeguarded,” he said.

UNP Puttalam District MP Niroshan Perera said that modernising the fishing industry would be meaningless if the welfare of the local fishermen is not safeguarded. “Today, the Indian fishermen are freely intruding into our territorial waters and causing immense harm to our marine resources. The Tamil Nadu political environment has also lead to an increase in this trend. We cannot remain silent any longer on this issue,” he said.

The UNP MP said that, according to media reports, Sri Lanka is losing as much as US$ 750 million due to the intrusion by Indian fishermen. Although we have repeatedly spoken on this, we have not been able to find a proper solution to this issue. As our relations with Tamil Nadu have broken down, we have to deal directly with the Indian Central Government and address these issues urgently,” he said.

UPFA Puttalam District MP Arundika Fernando said that Sri Lankan fishermen operating multi-day fishing trawlers were being harassed by the Indian authorities, as the Lankans have to pass through Indian and Maldivian territorial waters on their way to the Arabian Sea, where they engage in fishing legally.

“We have to ensure that our fishermen are granted ‘innocent passage’ without being arrested,” he said. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, innocent passage is described as “Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State and “such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.”

Mr. Fernando said discussions must be held with the Indian authorities to ensure that this process takes place without any inconvenience caused to local fishermen.  He said that Tamil Nadu was engaging in tit-for-tat arrest of Sri Lankan fisherman, but the two issues are very different from each other. Around 400 boats from South India enter our territorial waters around 2 p.m. daily, and leave by about 4 p.m., taking with them large stocks of fish. This is completely wrong. Our fishermen do not fish in Indian waters. They are only using it as a passage to the Arabian Sea. You cannot compare the two deeds,” the UPFA MP said.

He added that false and exaggerated media reports are circulated in South India, that Indian fisherman are being harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN). Fisheries Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratna said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the SLN to take all measures to ensure that local fishermen are safeguarded.

“Our fishermen are being treated very badly in India’s custody. The Indian fishermen we arrest are treated very well. Today (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) Jayalalitha is trying to force the Indian Prime Minister not to come here. When you give unlimited power to the provinces, this is what happens,” the Deputy Minister said. 

He added that the Government will not be intimidated by this kind of action. “We must all get together and stop the invasion by Jayalalithaa and safeguard our marine resources and our fishermen. The UNP has expressed its willingness to join us and we request the JVP and the TNA also to join us. The Sri Lanka Parliament must work together to stop this invasion by South India,” he said.