Protests against India in Sri Lanka after the death of two fishermen in Jaffna

 

Long-running tensions between fishermen in northern Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu have been rising in recent times. Fishermen from northern Sri Lanka are protesting against India. They are blaming Indian fishermen for the death of two Jaffna fishermen.

Tension increased after the bodies of two fishermen were found

A report in The Hindu states that on January 27 and 29 there were two skirmishes in the middle of the sea. Indian trawlers reportedly collided with small Sri Lankan fishing boats. The bodies of two Jaffna fishermen have been recovered after two days of this clash. Tamil-speaking fishermen on either side have rarely physically attacked each other. In such a situation, the matter has become tense between the two sides.

Indian Consul General protests

Annalingam Annarsa, head of Jaffna District Fishermen's Co-operative Society Association, has said that we are very worried after the bodies of two fishermen were found. We have protested in front of the Governor's Secretariat, Jaffna District Secretariat and the Consul General of India. We have demanded that the downward trolling be stopped immediately as this is at the heart of all the problems.

Demand for Sri Lankan fishermen, trolling should be stopped at the bottom

Sri Lanka banned bottom trawling in 2017 and imposed heavy fines on foreign vessels engaged in illegal fishing in its territorial waters. After this Indian fishermen stopped going to those areas. But Indian fishermen have been visiting this area.

Annarsa has said that both our governments and fishermen leaders are talking about this for more than a decade but till now no solution has been found. We are open to talking to fishermen in Tamil Nadu provided they stop using downstream trawling immediately.