Minister tells fishermen:

Don’t stray into Indian waters

Sandasen Marasinghe

Fisheries Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne yesterday urged Sri Lankan fishermen not to trespass into Indian territorial waters for fishing.

The Minister making a statement in connection with the 10 Sri Lankan fishermen arrested in Andra Pradesh, asserted that illegal fishing affects the goodwill between the governments of Sri Lanka and India.

He also added that the same act affects the good image of the country as well.

The Minister also added that the Ministry condemns both Indian fishermen trespassing in Sri Lankan waters as well the Sri Lankan fishermen trespassing in theirs.

Fisheries Ministry Media Secretary Narendra Rajapaksa said that 10 Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested by the Indian Coast Guard on April 15 allegedly for fishing in the seas off Andra Pradesh. The Indian Coast Guards also seized two trawlers Deshani 1 and Visora Duwa in which the fishermen were fishing.

The Fisheries Ministry Media Secretary stated that Deshani 1 left the Trincomalee fisheries harbour on March 3 and Visora Duwa left on March 22. He added that the Minister had informed the Sri Lankan Ambassador in India about this incident.

The Ministry also took measures to bring the matter to the notice of External Affairs Ministry to take immediate steps to get the fishermen released with immediate effect.

The Media Secretary stated that the trawlers are equipped with machines to locate their position in the seas and most often the fishermen deliberately break the laws.