Posters have sprung up across Mannar, opposing the draft of Sri Lanka’s new fisheries law last week. The Mannar district youth organization of the National Fisheries Cooperation Movement, operating under the name “Union of Fishermen Organizations,” has taken a stand against it, with posters declaring their determination to defeat a law they believe threatens the livelihoods of those dependent on the fishing industry.
The recent protests are part of a larger narrative—one that intertwines with the longstanding issue of Indian fishermen poaching and using trawlers in North-Eastern waters. This practice has been a bone of contention between the two neighboring communities for years.
Over the past two weeks, Sri Lankan authorities have made a series of arrests, apprehending Indian fishermen who they say were fishing illegally. These arrests have strained bilateral relations and heightened tensions. For the first half of this year alone, the navy has apprehended 35 Indian trawlers and 252 fishermen. Tamil Nadu fishermen have reported instances of abuse, torture, and extrajudicial killings by Sri Lanka’s Navy for years.
During one such operation, a Sri Lankan navy officer lost his life while attempting to apprehend poachers. His death underscores the seriousness of the situation and adds emotional weight to the ongoing dispute.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K Stalin, has escalated matters by writing to the central government, urging immediate intervention. The plight of Tamil fisherfolk in the North-East remains largely ignored by the Sri Lankan government.