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Fishing crisis: President urges talks with Tamil Nadu
President Maithripala Sirisena has proposed that the Northern Provincial Council should work with a ministerial delegation for talks with the Tamil Nadu government to work out a solution to the poaching issue, officials said. The President’s proposal came during talks with a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation led by party leader R. Sampanthan. Fisheries representatives from the Northern Province were also present.
The President explained that Sri Lanka needed to make the Tamil Nadu government understand the plight of the northern fishermen. “I myself would like to visit Tamil Nadu, if the security arrangements are in order,” the President remarked. This is the first time the TNA has raised the poaching issue directly with the Government. The Northern Province Fisheries Minister B. Danishwaran, who attended the talks, presented a memorandum to the President on the poaching issue.
Until a solution is reached, President Sirisena ordered the Navy to go ahead with the arrest and detention of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
There was immediate action from the Sri Lanka Navy which arrested 37 Indian fishermen off the Delft Island on Friday and detained five trawlers. Simultaneously India also arrested six Lankan fishermen and detained a boat.
The President’s directive came after Navy made a detailed visual presentation with satellite images of how Indian trawlers were entering Lankan waters. The President also directed the Fisheries Ministry Secretary to strengthen the existing laws to prevent poaching and use of illegal fishing methods.
Fisheries Ministry Secretary Nimal Hettiarachchi, who was also present, said some laws had been passed recently to curb poaching but further measures would be recommended to the Cabinet soon.