Even as the row over Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera’s rejection of Tamil Nadu fisherfolk’s main demand is yet to settle down, the Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 14 fishermen and three boats, all from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
Around 5 p.m. on Monday, the arrest took place at 10 nautical miles north of Talaimannar and the persons were indulging in bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters, Commander A.I. P. De Silva, spokesperson of the Navy, told
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The arrested persons, who were handed over to officials of the Fisheries Department in Mannar initially, were later produced before a magistrate in Mannar and remanded to custody till June 12, said Albert Justin Soysa, president of the Mannar District Fishermen’s Federation in the Northern Province.
The latest development has taken place exactly two months after the previous spell of arrest in which 37 persons along with five boats were picked up by the Navy in Kankesanthurai. After the intervention of President Maithripala Sirisena, the fishermen were released a few weeks ago. After taking into account the Monday’s incident of boat seizure, the number of Indian boats impounded by the Sri Lankan authorities goes up to 49.
It was only last week that Mr. Amaraweera categorically stated that the demand of Indian fishermen for 83 days of fishing for three years could not acceded to. A day later, the Ministry of External Affairs of the Indian government called remarks by the Minister “not helpful.” A few days ago, the Sri Lankan government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the governments of India and Sri Lanka would continue the process of dialogue on the issue to seek “satisfactory short-term and long-term solutions.”
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