Unfolding Crisis: Indo-Sri Lankan Fishing Dispute Explained

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister, Douglas Devananda, declared his intent to resign from his ministerial position and join the fishermen in protest if India exerts pressure on the Indo-Sri Lankan fisheries issue. 

This statement was made in response to concerns about Indian intervention and the escalating exploitation of Sri Lankan marine resources by Indian fishers.

Meanwhile, the fisherfolk of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu have concluded their strike and hunger protest, which was initiated to demand the release of their colleagues imprisoned for unauthorized fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters. They resumed their work today.

In a separate development, the Rameswaram fishing community has planned to hoist black flags as a sign of protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his forthcoming visit to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

What is the fishing crisis between India and Sri Lanka?

Fisherfolk from Rameswaram have been engaged in a strike exceeding a week, demanding the release of four of their counterparts from Tamil Nadu and other fishermen who have been incarcerated in Sri Lanka. This protest escalated into a continuous hunger strike over two days.

Earlier this month on two separate occasions, the Kytes Magistrate handed down sentences to four Tamil Nadu fishers who were apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy for encroaching upon the Sea of Sri Lanka and engaging in fishing activities. 

Three of these individuals were sentenced to imprisonment for violating the country's territorial waters using GPS technology.

This punitive action was taken as these fishermen, previously released on suspended sentences, were found to be repeating the same offense.

However, the protests were suspended yesterday evening following a meeting between the fishermen and Kadar Batcha Mutthuramalingam , a representative of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kalaham Party, acting on behalf of the Tamil Nadu state government.

Last Tuesday, the Rameswaram fishers had initiated steps to surrender their state documents pertaining to their profession to the government. This action was subsequently abandoned in light of assurances given by the officials.

Despite resuming their work today, the fishermen of Rameswaram announced their intention to stage a protest tomorrow. They plan to form a human chain along the coast of Panban in Tamil Nadu to express their dissent.

Simultaneously, the fishing community of Jaffna is mobilizing towards the Sri Lankan coastline, readying to hoist black flags in a planned demonstration. 

This protest is aimed against the incursion of Indian fishers into the Sea of Sri Lanka and the subsequent depletion of local marine resources. 

In the current scenario, questions are being raised about the mechanisms through which Indian fishermen gain access to Sri Lankan waters and the subsequent exploitation of marine resources.

MMM Hakeem, a distinguished senior lecturer at the University of Colombo, recently shed light on this issue. 

He elucidated the detrimental impact on our nation’s sovereignty resulting from the unauthorized entry of Indian vessels into Sri Lankan maritime territory. 

"They use a method called bottom trawling. By two in the afternoon, all of them are at the Indian maritime boundary. These Indian fisher folk are from Nagapatti, Kodikkarai, Rameswaram and Pamban. By eight in the evening, they are in the Sea of Sri Lanka. By ten at night, almost all Indian boats are in the Sea of Sri Lanka. By 1 in the morning, around 2,500 Indian boats are in the Sea of Sri Lanka. They engage in fishing on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Thereafter, they turn back. Legally, this is a threat to the country's sovereignty. It violates the Indo - Sri Lanka agreement. In addition, there is an issue whether the India is approving of their fisher folk entering the Sea of Sri Lanka and violating the country's sovereignty," explained M. M. M Hakeem (Attorney-at-Law), the Senior Lecturer from the University of Colombo.

What stance does the Indian government hold regarding this crisis?

In the interim, Anitha Radhakrishnan, the Fisheries Minister of Tamil Nadu, expressed that the currently stalled dialogues need to be resumed in order to address the Indo-Lankan fisheries issue.

What is the perspective of the Sri Lankan government?

Ali Sabri, the Minister of Foreign Affairs speaking on NewsLine shared his insights on the matter of fisheries disputes between the two nations.

The issue of Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters is a long-standing and sensitive one, with significant economic, environmental, and political dimensions.

The Sri Lankan Navy has been actively addressing this issue, issuing weekly statements about the capture of fishermen and their boats, and taking legal action against them. 

Despite these efforts, the problem persists, with Sri Lanka's resources being exploited through the use of bottom trawling mechanisms.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, addressed the ongoing issue of Indian fishermen encroaching into Sri Lankan waters, a matter that has raised questions about sovereignty and resource management.

"We continue to talk to the Indian side on a case-by-case basis," said Sabry, acknowledging the long-standing nature of the problem and the practical limitations in addressing it. "Our Navy cannot practically stop all the ships (boats) coming in, but we continue to exert pressure on them and also continue to exercise caution in detecting and detaining them."

Fishermen from Tamil Nadu refrained from participating in the activities related to the annual Kachchathivu feast, citing harassment by Sri Lanka. 

While the situation is delicate, Sabry emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach to resolving the issue without escalating it into a full-blown conflict between the two countries.

"We have also told them, bottom trawling is very dangerous and that will kind of destroy the fishing resources, not only for the Sri Lankans, but for the entire world," Sabry added.

Douglas meets Indian Envoy

In a recent development, a significant meeting transpired between Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha. This meeting took place yesterday afternoon at the office of the Indian High Commission.

The High Commission of India in Colombo issued a notification stating that the Indian High Commissioner has appealed for a humanitarian consideration of this issue, with the welfare of the fishermen from both nations in mind.