Hold talks with SL Govt over fisheries issue - Ramadoss

PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss has condemned the recent arrest of 23 Nagapattinam fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

In a statement on Thursday, he urged that the Central Government to take steps for the release of the jailed fishermen and find a permanent solution to end the attacks on Indian fishers by the Sri Lankan Navy.

According to Sri Lankan Navy website, a fast attack craft of the 04th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla (4 FAF) and an inshore patrol craft attached to the Northern Naval Command caught two Indian fishing vessels and 23 fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters east off Point Pedro and Vettilaikeni on October 13.

The Navy also seized their catch and fishing gear used for ‘bottom trawling.’

Ramadoss said the Central Government should not allow transgressions by the Sri Lankan Navy.

He stated that the nautical distance between India and Sri Lanka is limited to very few kilometres in sea off Nagapattinam. “The sea is narrow, leaving no room for even demarcating the International Maritime Boundary Lane (IMBL) in the area. Hence, crossing the borders by mistake by Indian fishermen and vice-versa is natural one. The central government should have condemned the arrest. International organisations insist on handling such situations smoothly without arrest,” said Ramadoss. The PMK leader put the responsibilities of protecting the livelihood of the families of the arrested fishermen on the Central Government. He insisted that the Central Government should resume talks with the Sri Lankan Government over the issue. (TOI)