Fishermen urge authorities to apply more controls on maritime borders

Colombo, Sri Lanka – The India-Sri Lanka relations have been affected by attacks and tension between fishermen on the two countries’ shared borders.

The issue has climaxed before the two countries decided to bring this up at a meeting at the highest navy echelons in September 2021.

The meeting addressed common challenges faced by both countries while enhancing mutual understanding among navies and the coast guards of the two countries.

Sri Lankan fishermen reported that they tend not to go far into the sea to avoid conflict with their Indian counterparts. They lamented that Indian fishermen would cross the borders and encroach upon their fishing territories.

They claimed that they lose their fishing equipment and nets due to the altercations on the borders. Some fishermen also lost their life.

Sri Lankan fishermen have complained to the authorities and local representatives to bring an end to the crisis; yet, no solution was brought forward.

Speaking to A24 News Agency, a relative of a deceased fisherman complained that since the government did not take an action, they had to face the Indians themselves and lost two lives because of this.

“The government has to come up with a solution. A Minister has visited here to discuss the subject matter, but we did not receive any solution for this yet. We had protested this for two consecutive days; yet, we are still waiting for a
solution. We are fixated on preventing the loss in life and the equipment,” added the fisherman.

Local fishermen said that future losses of lives and fishing equipment would be avoided if officials of the two countries worked jointly and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to reach serious resolutions that compel each party to abide by its designated territory.