A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Monday, September 30, 2013
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said today that it will take up the
issue of the Tamil Nadu fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan territorial
waters, with the central government as soon as it takes oaths next week.
TNA, spokesman, Suresh Premachandran told Ceylon Today that the problem
of poaching in the northern territorial waters is going on for a long
time and that soon a solution will be found to the problem plaguing the
northern fishermen .
He said that the TNA is getting complaints from fishermen operating in
the Mullaitivu and Point Pedro waters daily, complaining of Indian
fisherman fishing in Sri Lankan waters. “We hope to take the issue with
the Ministry of Fisheries and the Tamil Nadu government, as soon as we
take our oaths,” he said.
Premachandra said that the problem could be sorted out at least half way
if the government allows sea fishing in the deep sea with trawlers. He
said that for deep sea fishing, 100 to 200 fishing trawlers can be
used and the catch would last for over a week. “When the fishermen fish
in shallow waters the Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen do not know the
maritime boundary and cross each boarders” he said. “It is only 15 – 20
kilo meters distance between,” he said.
Premachandra said that the fishermen in the north have the twin
disadvantage of not having trawlers and the deep sea fishing experience
that goes with. He said that the north does not have a single trawler or
the right kind of training in fishing. “The government has to support
them,” he said.
However, the Fisheries Department said today that it is ready to have
talks with the Indian External Affairs Minister , Salman Khurshid who is
due to be here next week. Director General and Spokesman, Nimal
Hettiarachchi told Ceylon Today that the two governments will sit and
talk on the long drawn out issue. “It is going to be a difficult
issue,” he said.
Commenting on the fishing trawlers that are being confiscated he said
that they are being retained according to a recent directive issued by
the Attorney General (AG). It is learnt that presently there are over
150 Tamil Nadu fishermen languishing in the jails with around 40
trawlers seized. (Ceylon Today Online)