Sri Lankan government rejects fishing proposal of India

Colombo : Sri Lankan government on Tuesday has rejected the fishing proposal of India, which allow its fishermen to catch fish in Lankan waters for 65 days a year. On the fishing proposal of India Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, "Not 65 days, we will not agree for even 65 hours."

Speaking in the southern port town of Galle, the minister said that, India had requested Sri Lanka to allow Indians to catch fish for 65 days a year in Sri Lankan waters in an attempt to resolve the Indo-Lanka fishing issue. However Amaraweera said that he refused to agree to the proposal which had come through the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

The Minister said that, Indian fishermen use bottom trawling and that method is harmful to Sri Lanka’s fishing resources. He said the navy has been instructed to continue arresting Indian fishermen who poach in Sri Lankan waters.

He also said that local fishermen are still using dynamite to catch fish at some locations.

Sri Lankan and Indian fishing organisations have held several rounds of discussions to sort out the long-pending dispute. Both sides claim it is a livelihood issue which needs to be resolved soon.

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