Indian fishermen from Rameshwaram have taken a decision to set sail to Sri Lanka if the Sri Lankan authorities did not release the 49 fishermen arrested by the Navy on June 05.
The fishermen have decided to set sail in over 750 trawlers, flying white flags, to Thalaimannar on June 22 if the arrested fishermen were not released by June 20.
Indian daily The Hindu reported that in an emergency meeting leaders of 11 fishermen associations and boat owners unanimously adopted two resolutions- to change the fishing timings and to set sail to Sri Lanka.
“If the arrested fishermen are not released by June 20, the fishermen will sail to Thalaimannar in more than 750 and ask the Island government to protect our livelihood and allow us to enjoy our traditional fishing rights,” president of the Rameswaram Mechanized Boat Fishermen Association has said.
Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested the 49 Indian fishermen along with their 10 trawlers on two separate occasions on June 05 while they were engaged in illegal fishing in the seas off Thalaimannar and Kankasanthurai in Jaffna peninsula.
The arrested fishermen have been handed over to Thalaimannar Police and Karainagar Fisheries Department Authorities for legal action and following court appearance they have been remanded.
Indian Consulate officers in Jaffna have visited the fishermen remanded in the two courts in Mannar and Kayts and have provided them with lunch and other necessities.
Sri Lanka’s Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister recently said the Indian fishermen, taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s procedure of releasing them after mediation by the Indian High Commission office, deliberately indulge in illegal fishing.
2000, 2012 by LankaPage.com (LLC)