Ask Sri Lanka to rescind new fisheries bill: Edappadi K Palaniswami to Narendra Modi

CHENNAI: A new fisheries Bill introduced in the Sri Lankan Parliament prohibiting certain fishing methods including bottom trawling is aimed at preventing Indian fishermen from exercising their fishing rights in the traditional waters of Palk Bay, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Dashing off a letter, the Chief Minister asked the Prime Minister to register India’s strong protest on the bill through diplomatic channels and ensure that necessary provisions are made in the new legislation to exempt the traditional waters of Palk Bay from the purview of the new law.

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Bill says the fishing trawlers as well as fishing gear used for fishing in the Sri Lankan territorial waters will be confiscated, fishermen imprisoned for two years and huge fines up to 50,000 Lankan Rupees will be imposed, the CM told the PM. “It is further reported that the Bill is predominantly aimed at Indian fishermen who have been carrying out fishing for many centuries in their traditional waters of Palk Bay,” Mr Palaniswami said, reminding the Prime Minister that Palk Bay is the “historic and traditional fishing area” of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

Contending that the unilateral move by the Sri Lankan Government will definitely hamper the joint initiatives taken by India and Sri Lanka, Mr Palaniswami said the legislation proposed is, in fact, a severe setback to the diplomatic efforts being taken to resolve the issue amicably. “The new Legislation of Sri Lanka is aimed at preventing our fishermen from exercising their traditional fishing rights in the fishing waters in which they have continued to fish for several centuries and will deny their fundamental rights conferred by the Constitution of India,” the Chief Minister said in his letter.

The move by Sri Lankan Government to introduce the Bill at this crucial juncture of transition towards a permanent solution is nothing but a harsh step to undermine the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Government of India to sort out the sensitive issue, he further said. Mr Palaniswami also asked Mr Modi you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Mission in Sri Lanka to “immediately, appropriately and effectively” respond to this latest move by the Sri Lankan both by registering strong protest against the move and ensuring that necessary provisions are made in the new legislation to exempt the traditional waters of Palk Bay from its purview.