Chennai: The much awaited talks between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen facilitated by the TN government to sort out various issues between the fishermen of the two countries, including traditional rigÂhts for fishing in the Palk Strait, will commence at the Fisheries DeparÂtment office in Teynampet on Monday.
The nagging issue of Indian fishermen landing in Lankan jails for allegedly violating territorial boundary has been sore point for the state and the central government and the talks are expected to ease the tension among thousands of fishermen in both countries.
Over the past few years, Indian fishermen breaching into Lankan waters and those found fishing close to Indian coasts have landed hundreds of fishermen of both nations in jail for long periods of time depriving them of a livelihood.
Following a demand made by various fishermen associations to the Chief minister for holding talks to sort out the issue amicably, the state government took it up with the Centre repeatedly and also arranged for the talks to be held in Chennai.
As a goodwill measure, a total of 317 Indian fishermen, including 295 from TN and 22 from Puducherry who were languishing in Lankan prisons, were released while 179 Lankan fishermen who were in TN prisons have also been released.
The state government has fixed a clear agenda for the talks which includes deciding on the fishing rights for Indian and Lankan fishermen over fishing in Palk Strait, which is their traditional fishing area, SL Navy giving up their practice of abducting Indian fishermen found in their waters and imprisoning them besides seizing their boats, deciding on the fishing techniques to be practised while fishing in Palk Strait to ensure least environmental damage among others.
Fishermen here express hope that that the talks would be a huge success if the delegations from both countries stick to the agenda set by the state government. President of South Indian Fishermen Association, K Bharathi, said the fishermen here were hopeful the Lankan authorities would not hijack the agenda of the talks.
“While there is a clear mandate, some Lankan politicians are claiming that they would implement an earlier agreement made in 2008 between the two countries. We hope that the talks are restricted to the present problem and our fishermen will abide by the decisions taken during the talks,” Bharathi said.
