TN Fishermen’s Assn thanks Thondaman

Dehiowita special corr

Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Association Chief Advisor N. Devadas thanked Minister Arumugan Thondaman during a telephone conversation, for meeting the 19 Tamil Nadu fishermen at Anuradhapura and talking to them and providing meals and clothes.

Minister Thondaman had also sent his attorney-at-law Perumal Rajadorai to the courts for the release of these fishermen.

Devadas also thanked CWC president and Rajadorai, Uva Provincial Minister Senthil Thondaman, advisor to the Sri Lanka- India Fishermen’s Association S. P. Anthonimuthu and the officers attached to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka for their endeavour to release these fishermen.

Devadas said Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishermen had longstanding brotherhood which was tarnished after the war.

“There is enmity between them today. I am taking all measures to bring these two factions under one umbrella and sort out the problems,” he said. He and Anthonimuthu are working together to see an end to the problems, he said.

He visited Sri Lanka recently heading a delegation and met Minister Basil Rajapaksa with Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha and Anthonimuthu.

“Our attempts to defuse tension and have an understanding in fishing was endorsed by both governments,” he said.

Devadas condemned the attack of Buddhist leaders and pilgrims in India. The Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Association has protested this type of unwanted activities. He said when a VIP visited Tamil Nadu with his wife in 2012, they were attacked. The fishermen on hearing this came in their hundreds and protested.

They not only thwarted further attack but helped their safe journey back, he said. Anthonimuthu said those in Tamil Nadu who parade the streets against ministers going to Tamil Nadu should follow the path taken by Minister Thondaman by taking action to free the Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lanka.

It is only through dialogue that problems can be solved. Attacking religious leaders and pilgrims will only encourage hatred, he said. He said soon a meeting of the fishermen of both countries will be organised to bring normalcy and peace.