News
Indian raiders muddy the waters in northern seas
View(s):By Sohan Vipulanda
The Jaffna district Fishermen Cooperative Association secretary Pakiyanathan Regan said it is likely that more Indian fishermen are crossing Sri Lanka’s wartime boundary through the Karainagar-Mullaitivu region. 
Bottom trawlers from Rameshwaram, India have been seen in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters since last month. On July 3, the Sri Lanka Navy arrested 12 Indian fishermen who illegally crossed the Sri Lankan maritime boundary.
At the same time, hundreds are trying to flee the country to either India or Australia, by boat and are being arrested by the navy.
“When the fuel shortage was not an issue, we were able to chase the Indian vessels back onto their waters, but now we do not have any way to stop them,” Mr Regan said.
Illegal fishing by the Indians continues to cause tensions.
The 12 Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Navy and (left) their vessel. Pix by Romesh Madusanka
The fishermen are only allowed 20 litres of diesel once in 10 days. This has pushed them to set off on a deep fishing trip just once a month. Some have stopped fishing.
The president of the Jaffna District Fishermen Cooperative Association, Mr Annalingam Annarasa said that last month Indian fishermen had entered Sri Lankan waters illegally and destroyed nets worth Rs 600,000.
He called on all government authorities to prevent the exploitation of Sri Lanka’s marine resources.
Mr Annarasa said that he has written to Mr M.K.Stalin, chief minister for Tamil Nadu in India and other senior officials.
Meanwhile, Mr M.K.Stalin and Mr K. Annamalai, Tamil Nadu state president of the BJP and many other leaders of Indian political parties from Tamil Nadu have written to Mr. S. Jaishanker, the external affairs minister of India to help release the 12 fishermen and their boats. They had been arrested
by the Sri Lankan Navy on July 3.
Mr Stalin said the fishermen from Tamil Nadu had resumed fishing after the annual bad period of 61 days to allow for the breeding of fish which ended on June 15.
“Although the Indian Government is helping our Government with credit lines and financial assistance, it doesn’t mean they have the right to exploit our sea resources. We will protect our Rights,” Mr Annarasa added.
Mr Annarasa, together with 100 fishermen is to meet the Consul General of India to Sri Lanka in Jaffna to discuss the illegal entry of Indian vessels.
Mr Annarasa also added that the government is looking at it as a Tamil people’s struggle not as a diplomatic issue.
The fishermen from the North and South of Sri Lanka are finding it difficult to continue their fishing due to the fuel shortage.
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