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Fishing crisis: Top level talks but undercurrents of scepticism
View(s):By Sandran Rubatheesan
Ministerial level talks between India and Sri Lanka to resolve the long standing fisheries disputes are scheduled to be held next Saturday in New Dehli.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera will meet India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
The ministerial meeting will be preceded by talks between fishermen’s association representatives of the two countries. A ten-member Sri Lankan delegation will leave for New Delhi on Wednesday for talks with Tamil Nadhu fishermen’s representatives, with the focus on poaching in the Palk Strait.
A workshop will be held at the Fisheries Ministry today to brief the Sri Lankan fishermen’s delegation on the theme and thrust of the talks.
Mannar Fisheries Cooperative Union leader N.M. Aalam said that during tomorrow’s workshop they hoped to come to a common stand on the issues to be taken up.He ruled any concession whereby Indian fishermen would be given a grace period to fish in Sri Lankan waters.
The Sunday Times learns that the Fisheries Director General and other key fishermen’s leaders who took a strong stand at earlier talks have been left out of the delegation for the new round of talks due to political pressure.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) also played a significant role in selecting fishermen leaders from North and East omitting some key fishermen’s leaders.
Meanwhile Jaffna Fishermen’s Association leader Naganathy Ponnambalam who took part in all previous fishermen level talks but has been left out this time said, he believed next weeks talks would produced little or nothing.
“We appreciate India’s assistance to our people in development and other areas but we would request India not to deny us our livelihood,” he said.