This week Sri Lanka’s Navy arrested 22 Indian fishermen deepening the rift between the two nations over the illegal fishing row.
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 22 fishermen on Monday for crossing over to Sri Lanka’s Maritime Boundary Line. The Indian fishermen maintained that their fisherfolk were arrested when they were fishing in the deep waters between India and Sri Lanka, adding that their mechanized boats were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy.
According to Sri Lanka’s Navy, it was a coordinated operation by the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard which led to the arrest. They said the fishermen were found fishing off Kudirmalei Point, South of Mannar Sea during the arrest.
According to the Indian press, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has taken representatives of the fishermen community along with him to meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi to discuss the continuous attacks they face from the Sri Lankan Navy. After the meeting, Jaishankar said that necessary measures would be taken to address the matter.
"We will look at this to find some amicable solution. This should not be a political problem. It's a matter of their livelihood. Our Government and High Commission have always worked for their welfare. Recently, 20 fishermen were released," the External Affairs Minister added. Jaishankar had assured a meeting with the fishermen's association and a joint working group soon.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Deep Sea Fishermen Association secretary Pugazhi Selvam told the Indian press that even though the Lankan Navy arrested them at 2 pm, they informed the families only by 6 pm.
The fishermen did not breach the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), he said, adding that the navy personnel could not find any violation as the fishers had all the necessary documents. The fishers were booked on false charges, Selvam added. Last week, the Indian government summoned Sri Lanka’s representative and lodged a “strong protest,” after one Tamil Nadu fisherman was killed and another remains missing, following a confrontation with the Sri Lankan navy recently.
The Indian-Sri Lankan fishermen row was also taken up at the Indian parliament last week. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha said four Indian fishermen are serving sentences and 169 Indian fishing vessels have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan authorities. He was asked whether the government has taken any action concerning the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's "letter dated July 11, 2024, requesting the release of 80 fishermen and 173 fishing boats detained by Sri Lankan Navy" and details thereof.
