21 February 2010 02:28 pm Views - 3742
The Sri Lankan government is contemplating legal action against Sri Lankan fishermen who cross over into Indian territorial waters illegally, a move seen as an attempt to stem the frequent clashes between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen.
Fisheries Minister Felix Perera, speaking to Daily Mirror online, said that measures will also be taken to install sophisticated radar equipment on fishing boats which will alert the Sri Lankan navy if the fishing boats go beyond Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
The Minister noted that while Indian authorities tend to come down hard on Indian fishermen who enter Sri Lankan waters illegally similar action is not taken against Sri Lankan fishermen when they cross over into Indian waters.
However with more and more Sri Lankan fishermen crossing into Indian waters to poach the Sri Lankan authorities are now discussing the possibility of taking legal action against the fishermen and a final decision on the matter is expected to be reached by this week, Minister Perera told Daily Mirror online this evening. (Daily Mirror online)