Court orders release of 116 Indian fishermen

Ahead of the proposed talks between Sri Lanka and India to sort out the vexed fishermen issue, a court in Sri Lanka today ordered release of 116 fishermen, arrested over the last two months for allegedly crossing the IMBL and fishing in the island nation’s waters.

“The fishermen along with their 27 boats were ordered to be released by a court at Oorkavalthurai ahead of the talks to be held between officials and fishermen of both countries,” Assistant Director of Fisheries Gopinath told PTI.

He said the documents to enable fishermen’s association leaders visit Sri Lanka had not yet been received and they would get it either on Wednesday or Thursday.

Representatives of India and Sri Lankan officials and fishermen’s associations had participated in a meeting in Chennai on January 27, 2014 aimed at finding a solution to the dispute over fishing in Palk Strait, which had seen fishermen from Tamil Nadu frequently coming under alleged attacks and detentions by Sri Lankan Navy.

Sri Lanka accuses the fishermen from Tamil Nadu of straying into their territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Fisheries Ministry spokesman Narendra Rajapaksa said that 42 of the fishermen have been released.

Mr. Rajapaksa said the Indian delegation of 17 fishermen and 11 officials are to arrive on Wednesday midnight and that Sri Lanka will field a similar team.

Commenting on the talks to be held on Thursday, Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Fishing Sarath Kumara Gunaratna alleged that Tamil Nadu government had encouraged their fishermen to continue bottom trawling despite the agreement reached at the talks to stop it.

“We are trying to settle the issue with the Indian central government through diplomatic channels”, Mr. Gunaratna said. (PTI)