New Delhi: India summoned the acting high commissioner of Sri Lanka Tuesday morning and lodged a strong protest after the country’s Navy opened fire during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen the evening before.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Sri Lankan foreign ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
The MEA added: “Government of India has always emphasised the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns. The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed.”
The crew had gone to sea Sunday morning in a mechanised trawler and were confronted by the Sri Lankan Navy late Monday in the proximity of Delft Island. Out of 13 fishermen, two were seriously injured in the firing and were being treated at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Three others received minor injuries.
The Sri Lankan Navy held the men from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). At least one boat was also apprehended by Lankan authorities, according to reports.
The MEA said officials from the Indian consulate in Jaffna visited the hospital and were “extending all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families”. Over the weekend, reports indicated that at least 34 Indian fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan authorities before the incident Monday.
The firing by Navy personnel was “accidental” and occurred when the Indian fishermen attempted to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, said the Sri Lankan Navy in a statement Tuesday. Further the Sri Lankan Navy said that the fishermen were promptly given first aid before being transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
“The Indian fishermen have acted aggressively, maneuvering their fishing boat in a hostile manner and behaving confrontationally with the Navy. However, while boarding the fishing boat, in accordance with the authority vested in the Navy, the Indian fishermen, as an organized group, have attempted to assault naval personnel and made an attempt to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, endangering the lives of the naval personnel. In the process, an accidental fire has taken place, causing slight injuries to two Indian fishermen,” said the Sri Lankan Navy in a statement.
The seized fishing trawler and fishermen without any injuries were brought to the Kankasanthurai Harbour Tuesday morning and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal action.
Fishermen groups on strike
At least three fishing trawlers were seized on 25 and 26 January for illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters, say media reports. Following the weekend arrests, all fishermen associations in Ramanathapuram went on a two-day strike starting Monday.
The associations have urged the Union government to ensure the release of all fishermen detained in Sri Lankan prisons. There are about 141 Indian fishermen in custody, according to data published by the MEA in Parliament last November. Of the 141, 96 are serving sentences, while around 45 were under trial.
The treatment of fishermen in custody had found mention in the joint statement of the countries’ leaders during the visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake last month.
“Acknowledging the issues faced by fishermen on both sides and factoring the livelihood concerns, the leaders agreed on the need to continue to address these in a humanitarian manner. In this regard, they also underscored the need to take measures to avoid any aggressive behaviour or violence,” said the India-Sri Lanka joint statement published on 16 December.
Issues relating to fishermen were also raised by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to Colombo in October 2024, shortly after Dissanayake assumed power.
The two countries have different mechanisms to discuss issues regarding fisheries. A joint working group on fisheries is one such framework for government-to-government talks. The Tamil Nadu government also has representatives in this mechanism.
In 2024, Sri Lanka released around 375 Indian fishermen, who were repatriated to India, according to the MEA.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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A message to the Tamil fishermen. The Palk Strait and the Bay of Bengal are not your personal property or even national property. Stop living in the delusional world of Thamizh Samudram.
The seas and oceans are shared by multiple nations and very nation has it’s own area of exclusive economic rights. If you cross over the Sri Lankan part of the sea, there will always be grave repercussions.
That idiotic Chief Minister of yours who fancies himself as ‘Stalin’ and thinks his forefathers used iron 5500 years ago would be made to eat humble pie by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Tamil fishermen behave as if it’s the Thamizh Samudram. Idiots believe they were using iron 5000 years ago. Their CM’s name is “Stalin” and the idiot goes around as if he is the US President.
Wake up and smell the coffee! Times have changed. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
SL Navy should have arrested all of these Tamil fishermen.