Tamil Nadu’s silence hampers resolution of Indo-Lanka fisheries issue: Minister

Colombo, Juine 29 - In the backdrop of the death of a Navy sailor in the attempt to contain IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said the central government of India alone could not address this issue without the cooperation of the state government Tamil Nadu which is still maintaining stoic silence despite its impact on livelihoods of Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen in particular.

The 10 Indian fishermen, arrested for allegedly engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters, will be charged with the death of the Navy sailor whose funeral was conducted even with the participation.

A senior sailor from the Navy Special Boat Squadron sustained critical injuries due to “the aggressive manoeuvres of the Indian trawler, resisting its seizure, the Navy said.

The Minister who also carried the coffin of the sailor told Daily Mirror that the state government of Tamil Nadu is not keen to address the issue festering for decades with a heavy toll on the Sri Lankan economy and marine ecosystem.

He said Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, during his latest visit to Sri Lanka, invited him to New Delhi for talks on the matter.

“The Indian government in New Delhi alone cannot address this issue. I should visit Tamil Nadu. The state government is not ready to resolve this matter. If it is interested in doing so, it can easily do it by resorting to cancel fishing licences of trawl boat owners who cross the international maritime boundary line into Sri Lankan waters for fishing,” he said.

The Minister said most trawl boat owners are politically influential in Tamil Nadu making the resolution of this problem through diplomatic channels difficult.

Asked about the gravity of the issue at the moment, he said hundreds of mechanised Indian boats are involved in IUU fishing.

“Our fishermen have stopped venturing out to sea at times for fishing because of this menace. Our people only have small fibre boats,” he said.

The Minister also criticised the other Tamil parties in the north for not advocating a solution to this problem, instead of talking only about the implementation of the 13th Amendment.

“They keep on asking whether the 13th Amendment can be implemented in full, half or quarter. It is part of the Constitution. There is nothing to be asked for more. What is more serious for Tamil people is the economic issue,” he said.