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by Ranil Wijayapala

Top personnel of the Security Forces and the LTTE Sea Tiger wing yesterday agreed to tackle problems of North-East fishermen, at a meeting held in Muhamalai.

The Security Forces and the LTTE discussed LTTE sea movements, the Navy's Dvora movements and entry points for fishermen in the North, defence sources said.

The Navy announced eight entry points in four islands - Kayts, Mathagala, Karainagar and Punguduthivu for the fishermen.

However, the LTTE has requested Northern Navy Commander Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera to consider other places instead of the places proposed by the Navy since people have not resettled properly in those areas.

The LTTE has suggested Gurunagar as one entry point for fishermen and Rear Admiral Weerasekera has agreed to discuss the proposed alternative sites with the Navy Commander.

The Navy has proposed that fishermen should have lights in their fishing boats for identifying the areas frequented by fishermen in the night. The LTTE complained that fast moving Dvoras of the Navy damage fishing nets.

The Navy has agreed to reduce the speed of their boats in areas where fishermen roam.

The two parties also discussed LTTE sea movements to and from Mullaitivu to Vakarai in Batticaloa. The LTTE has requested that their leaders should be allowed to take weapons for self defence.

However both parties have not reached a final decision on the issue and agreed to inform their senior officials.

The Navy also agreed to consider the LTTE request that they should be allowed to sail one mile away from the shore instead of the three mile limit.

The problem of Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters was also discussed.

Northern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, Eastern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Ratnakeerti, Northern Air Force Commander Group Captain Kolitha Gunatilleke, Major General Shantha Kottegoda and Jaffna Deputy Commander Major General Ratnasabapathi represented the Security Forces.

Deputy Commander of the LTTE Sea Tigers Seliyan, Attack Commander Sri Ram, LTTE Jaffna Political Head Elamparithi, LTTE Peace Secretariat Coordinator Pulithevan and LTTE Media Spokesman Daya Master represented the LTTE.

Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Trond Furuhovde chaired the meeting.

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