India wants to share Lanka’s economic zone
Posted on August 2nd, 2011
South Asian News Agency (SANA) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢¢”š¬‚¹ƒ¢¢”š¬‚¦ August 2, 2011 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢¢”š¬‚¹ƒ¢¢”š¬‚¦
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DELHI (SANA)India has proposed that Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s exclusive economic zone be shared as a measure to resolve the Indo-Lanka fishing crisis, which has now turned out to be a diplomatic issue, Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
The Minister told Daily Mirror it would be one of the subjects discussed when IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Agriculture Minister -Sharad Pawar, who is in charge of the fisheries sector, visits Sri Lanka soon.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Pawar was expected to participate at last weekƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s National Aquaculture Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) but had to cancel his visit because of a sudden meeting called by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with regard to the cabinet reshuffle. The cancellation led to the postponement of an agreement between the two countries for cooperation on the agriculture sector.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I know Mr. Pawar personally. I have spoken to him on several issues in the past. When, Minister S.B. Dissanayake was stripped of his civics rights, I briefed the Indian political leadership at the time. I met Mr. Pawar on one such occasion. I am looking forward to seeing him again,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he said.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fishermen crossing the maritime border have become a serious issue with several fishermen by arrested by the coast guard of both countries.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ More than 70 Sri Lankan fishermen are still in the custody of Indian coastal guard though the Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy have been released. The fisheries crisis worsened after a Tamil Nadu fisherman was shot dead allegedly by the Sri Lanka Navy. However, the Navy denied this allegation. Later in another incident Sri Lankan fishermen had reported to have surrounded a group of Tamil Nadu fishermen involved in poaching in Sri Lankan waters and handed them over to the law enforcement authorities.
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:16 pm
“India has proposed that Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone be shared as a measure to resolve the Indo-Lanka fishing crisis, which has now turned out to be a diplomatic issue, Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.”
Does Minister Rajitha Senaratne sound like he is ready do a deal with the Indian minister?
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
This is extortion.
Indians send their fishermen to SL, create a problem and then share SL resources to “solve” the problem they created.
Typical Indian cursed crap!
India created LTTE and then sent the IPKF to “solve” the problem forcing the bloody 13 amendment along the way.
If (Pa)rajitha Senaratne agrees to this, he is an idiot.
August 3rd, 2011 at 4:11 am
India should respect the International Maritime Border between Sri Lanka and India. That is the international law. India tries to exploit our situation in international forums to exploit our natural resources. This is daylight roberry and blackmailing.
Ms Nirupama Rao has siad that there is no boundary for fish in the ocean. This is a laughable reason. So she says when maritime international laws were formulated those experts did not know that fish are swimming across borders.
But the solution is not to breach the international law, she can catch the fish when it swims into her area.
Sri Lankans should pressure the GOSL not to sign any deal to have any common economic zone. The GOSL does not have any mandate for this and it is a breach of sovereign rights of Sri Lanka people, hence, unconstitutional.