Fishermen urge GoSL not to release detained Indian trawlers

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 September 2003, 03:29 GMT]
Jaffna District Fisheries Societies Federation (JDFSF) called on the Sri Lanka Government not to return captured Indian trawlers caught poaching in the northern waters of Sri Lanka until the Indian authorities release boats belonging to Sri Lankan fishermen which are being detained at Rameswaram in South India by the Indian coast guard authorities, civil group sources said.

About hundred boats of Jaffna fishermen and of Sri Lankans in other parts of the country have been confiscated and detained at Rameswaram by Indian coastal guard authorities and appeal has already been made to the Fisheries Minister through the Jaffna Government Agent to take action to get release of such boats immediately.

The Jaffna Government has also brought this matter to the notice of the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo.

No action has been taken so far in regard to this question, sources said

Meanwhile, about forty Indian trawlers captured in northern sea when poaching are now kept under the custody of the Sri Lanka Navy. The JDFSF has called on the government to return the captured Indian trawlers only after the release of Sri Lanka fishing boats now being kept under custody of the Indian coast guard authorities in Rameswaram in Tamilnadu, fisheries sources said.