Rameswaram fishermen leaders have congratulated Maithripala Sirisena on his election as President of Sri Lanka and exuded confidence that the new dispensation would help resolve the fishermen issue.
“It is too early to say as how the new President will handle the fishermen issue, but we expect some change in his approach towards the issue,” P. Sesu Raja, leader of a fishermen association, said.
The new President should help the Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Lankan fishermen maintain cordial relationship and take steps for the resumption of talks between them to find a solution to the dispute over fishing in the Palk Bay, he said. “We also expect the new regime to order the release of 15 fishermen and more than 80 boats impounded by the Lankan authorities as a gesture of goodwill,” Mr Sesu said.
U. Arulanadham, president of Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), said the Tamils in Lanka had voted for a change at the helm of affairs in the island nation and Mr Sirisena should fulfil the aspirations of the Tamils.
“He will emerge as a tall leader if he finds solutions to two vexatious issues – the Tamils issue and the problem of Indian fishermen,” he said, adding at the outset Mr Sirisena should send a positive signal by ordering the release of Indian fishermen and their impounded boats.
N.J. Bose, another fishermen leader, said Mr Sirisena should accord top priority to finding a solution to the fishermen issue. “The new President who won with the support of the Tamils in Sri Lanka should pave way for resumption of talks between fishermen of the two countries and protect the livelihood of Indian fishermen,” he said. The Modi government at the Centre should hold talks with the newly elected President and secure the release of fishermen and boats, he added.
