A policy decision has not been taken to allow Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters, Cabinet co-spokesman Minister Udaya Gammanpila announced today.
He told reporters that the Minister of Fisheries has not discussed any such decision and the Cabinet too has not received any such proposal so far.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Fisheries Kanchana Wijesekera also denied that the Government is considering permitting Indian fisherman to fish in Sri Lankan waters.
He told reporters that Indian Fishing Associations have requested from the Sri Lankan Government to allow them to fish in waters off the coast of the North and North-East of Sri Lanka.
State Minister Wijesekera said during five rounds of discussion held so far, the Government, including Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda had rejected the request put forward by the Indian fishing associations.
Earlier, the Morning Newspaper had reported that the Ministry of Fisheries was in discussions with the Government of India for the implementation of a programme that would permit Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters.
The article quoted Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda as saying “There are two main problems we face in our waters. Indian fishermen illegally crossing the border, and engaging in bottom trawling. To settle these problems we have proposed that a limited number of Indian boats be given licenses to fish here per week”.
As per the report, Devananda said this plan is currently being discussed with the Indian government and would likely be implemented within a few months.
The Minister had however insisted that bottom trawlers would not be allowed to venture into Sri Lankan waters since they ruin the wealth of the country’s fisheries resources. (NewsWire)