News
Northern fisherfolk denounce ‘passes’ for Indian poachers
More than 2,000 fishermen this week took to the streets of Mannar against a proposal by Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda to issue passes for Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
Members of fisheries societies from Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Kilinochchi carried placards, chanted slogans, and marched into Mannar town and handed over a memorandum to the District Secretary Stanley de Mel. The memorandum is due to be sent to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In the memorandum, the unions said that fishermen have been making a key contribution to the economy but poaching by Indian fishermen has dented their output. People directly and indirectly earning from the industry have been affected with some losing their jobs, while high powered Indian trawlers were causing extensive damage to the seabed through bottom trawling.
The memorandum said that discussions have been held from time to time, without any clear solution.
“We are demanding the President to immediately intervene and resolve the issue as the lives of the fishermen are in danger,’’ the memorandum handed in by Northern Province Fishermen societies said.
They also say that Foreign Minister Ali Sabry’s comments in Parliament supporting a system of passes for Indian fishermen should be withdrawn.
Mr Sabry was responding to a question raised in Parliament by Wanni district lawmaker Charles Nirmalanathan who pointed out that Mr Sabry could intervene.
Mr Nirmalanathan told the Sunday Times that he objects to Mr Sabry’s comments as the solution he had proposed is not helpful. “My position is that how could a pass system help when we can’t even control them without issuing passes.’’
If the problem is not resolved amicably now it would turn into a major problem, he said. “This is the best time to resolve the issue as the diplomatic and political relations between the two countries are good now.’’
Parish priest of St. Lawrence church, Rev Fr Santhiyagu Marcus told the Sunday Times that it was only the Sri Lankan Government and the navy that can prevent poachers. “We should not allow the fishermen to go into a confrontation.’’
He said that in the absence of a solution, the fishermen will have to revert to other vocations.
Scenes from the protest in Mannar (above and top). Pix by Thayalan Loha
“This is the biggest protest we have had so far, but we will have bigger protests if the poaching issue is not resolved soon,” he said.
In recent weeks skirmishes have been reported in the northern seas. In one incident, Tamil Nadu fishermen had attacked a group of locals and damaged a boat. In another incident, locals were seen in pursuit of Indian fishermen to drive them off.
In another incident, reported last month, a group of local fishermen attacked a group of Indian fishermen, injuring one of them.
This year, 28 Indian fishermen have been arrested and 16 released, while 12 are in custody.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he hopes to discuss the issue in a visit to India, which he hopes to undertake.
He said Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda will accompany him.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!