By Don Asoka Wijewardena
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne warned Sri Lankan fishermen not to poach in Indian waters, as it was against international law. The Indian fishermen too had no right to fish in Sri Lankan waters, he said.
If both sides did not pay attention to this issue, it would affect the relationship between the two countries. He had brought this issue to the notice of the Indian government and had educated Sri Lankan fishermen, he said at the convention of National Fisheries Federations in Mannar.
Minister Senaratne said that some Indian fishermen who were entering Sri Lankan waters were exploiting conch shells and leeches. It was a great loss to the country. The photos of these Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters were shown to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The destruction of Sri Lanka’s coral resources by Indian trawlers were photographed and shown to the Indian Prime Minister. It was not fishing, it was a devastation of Sri Lankan fisheries resources, he said.
Minister Senaratne added that the export of sea leeches was banned in India. The Indian fishermen were catching Sri Lankan leeches and sea shells. After a few months they were selling them to our own fishermen. In the near future steps would be taken with the assistance of the coast guard to arrest Sri Lankan fishermen who were buying leeches from Indian fishermen.
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