India and Sri Lanka are close to clinching an agreement on drawing a fishing boundary in the Palk Strait that would put an end to recurring attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu allegedly by the island navy, Minister of State in PMO V. Narayanasamy said on Sunday.
“The proposed agreement is in final stages. Both Indian and Sri Lankan Governments have agreed to the boundary proposals,” he told reporters here.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid held several rounds of talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart as the government wanted to put an end to the continuing mid-sea attacks on the fishermen, vandalising nets and their arrests, he said.
Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka was also holding talks with the government there, he said adding the PMO was following up the matter.
He said Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen have been called for talks to finalise the sea boundary for the purpose of fishing.
Expressing confidence that the agreement would be signed, Mr. Narayanasamy said both the Central and state governments have to take steps. He also sought the cooperation of the Tamil Nadu Government in finalising the agreement.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has taken up with the Centre the issue of frequent attacks on the state fishermen and even demanded retrieval of Katchatheevu, an islet ceded by India to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.
Sri Lankan has been accusing Tamil Nadu fishermen of poaching by crossing into their territory near Katchatheevu, known for its rich fish wealth.
Why there should be a boundary? Kachatheevu should be handed over to our Fisherman. The rights to go and dry the fishes without any defense forces interruption should be given to the Fisherfolks. Fishermen of the two countries should talk first. Boundary decision should be decided by the fishermen. Then Govt. may facilitate their decision. Here Govts. are imposing the decision of fishermen. It is an autocritic decision. It is not democracy.
It is a good augury to have a international settlement on fishing boundaries between India and Srilanka.The long standing tussle between Indian and srilankan fishermen on fishing territory is going to be settled to the satisfaction of both the countries.My appeal to the media is while reporting the fisherman hailing from Tamilnadu kindly mention as Indian fisherman and not as Tamilnadu fisherman .If it is mentioned as Indian fishermen it will have a wider acceptability of the issues rather than confining to Tamilnadu
This is very good move. It will solve the fishermen problem once and for all. This will end the fishermen misery. It should done without any furhter delay. Katchatheevu belonged to India and it should be with India for ever to prevent any foreigner reaching there.
Please Email the Editor