India will remain engaged with Sri Lanka to secure release of fishermen and Indian boats in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities, the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj assured a delegation of coastal fishermen from Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. In the first such meeting since a fisherman was killed by Sri Lankan navy in the first week of this month, the senior minister assured that a major financial package for the development of deep sea fishing capacities for fishermen in Tamil Nadu would be implemented soon.
“External Affairs Minister assured that Government will remain closely engaged with Sri Lankan government to secure release of all Indian boats and fishermen currently in Sri Lankan custody,” said an official source about the interaction between Ms Swaraj and a visiting delegation of fishermen led by Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan and MPs Anwar. Raajha and L. Ganesan.
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Tuesday’s meeting is significant since it was the first time that the fishermen themselves presented the case regarding the killing of a Tamil Nadu fisherman on March 6, allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy. Following the incident, Sri Lanka had assured India of carrying out an investigation into the incident which is yet to be completed. Ms Swaraj assured the visiting delegation of the government’s support in developing more sustainable fishing practices. Tuesday’s meeting was also attended by the Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar.
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“She also reiterated Government’s commitment for early implementation of the Rs 1500 crore package to develop deep sea fishing capacities for fishermen in Tamil Nadu and informed that initial financial allotment in this regard had been made,” said the source.
India’s support for more sustainable fishing practices and deep sea fishing comes even as Sri Lanka’s parliament is considering a bill to ban bottom trawling in the waters around the island nation. The bill is part of the agenda of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which is led by R Sampanthan, a veteran Tamil politician in Sri Lanka.
In an interview with The Hindu last week , Mr Sampanthan had urged India to adopt more environment-friendly fishing practices. The issue of security of the Indian fishermen has acquired a new dimension in view of the expected visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in May when he is likely to participate in the Sri Lankan festival of Besak.