'Not satisfied with the outcome'

1 April 2011 01:21 pm Views - 3413

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NFSM), the umbrella body of the Sri Lankan fishermen associations, said it is not satisfied with the outcome of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries which ended on Tuesday.

India and Sri Lanka have called for better relations among their fishing communities, and agreed that there should be no use of force in the sea dividing the two countries when the working group of both countries met on Tuesday. Sri Lanka underlined the need for Indian fishermen to respect the international maritime boundary, whose breach they say has led to clashes -- and deaths -- on the sea during these talk.

Sri Lankan delegation said it was investigating the death of two Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu in the sea in January. Both countries called for arrangements that would further strengthen the safety, security and livelihood of the fishermen. They "agreed on the need to foster greater understanding between their respective fishermen and fishermen associations

NFSM Convener Herman Kumara told Daily Mirror that they are not satisfied with the outcome as Sri Lankan authorities virtually escort the Indian fishermen at the end of the day despite this agreement.

He said the fishermen of Kokilai in the North of Trincomallee had complained that the Indian fishermen had been coming into that area as well. He said the Sri Lankan fishermen had informed NFSM when they met them today.

Asked what steps will the NFSM intends to take to ensure the rights of Sri Lankan fishermen he said they will decide on the action later. He said NFSM will meet shortly though an exact date is not decided as yet. (Yohan Perera)