Navy responds to Jayalalithaa: TRADITIONAL FISHING BUNKUM, MAAM-SL Navy acting in line with United Nations Conventions of the Laws of the Sea:
Posted on January 7th, 2014
Sandasen Marasinghe
No country can speak about ‘traditional fishing waters’ in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters other than Sri Lankans, Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasooriya said.
He made this observation yesterday when queried about a statement allegedly made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday alleging that the Sri Lanka Navy is establishing its authoritarian presence by chasing and arresting Tamil Nadu fishermen fishing in their traditional fishing waters in the Gulf of Mannar.
Commander Warnakulasooriya said the Sri Lanka Navy is acting in line with the United Nations Conventions of the Laws of the Sea ratified in 1992. The Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka is divided into two with the International Maritime boundary line in between. He added that there is no such term as traditional fishing waters in those documents. He said Sri Lanka has all sovereign rights of the sea area that comes within its territorial waters.
He said the Sri Lanka Navy is establishing its authoritative presence in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka and taking measures to protect the same area from illegal fishermen for the benefit of Sri Lankan fishermen, especially those of the North and East. He added that the Sri Lanka Navy is also establishing its presence in the same waters to prevent all illegal transactions, drug trafficking, smuggling, human smuggling that affect not only Sri Lanka but also the entire region.
The Sri Lanka Navy is never repressive in establishing its authoritative presence in the territorial waters but abide by international standards and human rights. He added that the Navy never handles fishermen’s cases as they are civilians and hands them over to the Police immediately for legal measures. He said the Sri Lankan Navy is only acting upon powers vested on them like any other Navy in the world, to protect the resources in the territorial waters for the benefit of the country.
– See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/local/traditional-fishing-bunkum-maam#sthash.1TMZjw1z.dpuf
January 7th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Where is the FOREIGN MINISTER (if any)?
Navy has to defend the seas and ALSO defend the nation when dirty TN political dirt attack them!!
Anyway good work SLN. Keep up pressure on TN dirt. In turn TN pressures Endia and CONGRESS. Endian elections 4 months away! Good TIT FOR TAT. Congress fell for TN pressure and voted against SL now do what you can.
January 7th, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Where is the FOREIGN MINISTER ? He is in a Hindu Kovil worshipiing a God and asking for help.
Where is the FISHERY MINISTER ? He is in a Church.
Where is the PRIME MINISTER ? HE is in hot water, thinking how to excape.
Where is the BOSS ? He is is ISRAEL AND PALESTINE trying to win the NOBEL price.
We ask where is the Law and Order ? Where is the Sri Lankan Government ? Why is GR silent , sending Navy to answer stupid politicians.
January 7th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Now it is up to the ARMED FORCES to STAND THEIR GROUND.
Way to go!!!
The future of SL lies in our ARMED FORCES taking a HARD LINE STANCE and being UNCOMPROMISING against enemies of SL. After all it is they, who sacrificed their lives NOT the politicians.
Spineless, power greedy, corrupt, traitorous politicians will come and will eventually go…….
January 8th, 2014 at 4:43 am
Well said commander Kosala. The reply is logical and with facts.
M.G.Ramachandran’s son’s mother Jayalalitha thinks she is chief minister to entire South Asia. She is day dreaming.
There is no traditional sea fishing water or traditional home lands for tamil racist in Sri Lanka. There is a traditional sea and traditional home land and traditional dosai and vaddai for tamils in tamil nadu.
From Sri Lanka only one she could claim something as traditional tamil. That is Sri Lanka’s Matale born M.G.Ramachadran as her son’s father.
January 8th, 2014 at 5:29 am
Would somebody please explain to this woman the difference between ‘traditional fishing waters’ and ‘traditional poaching waters’? She and her ilk should also be reminded that there is something called international law that defines a country’s territorial waters, and you cannot lay claim to another country’s territorial waters on the basis that you have been illegally fishing there! This is typical of these TN and Tamil politicians – they seek to justify themselves with the most ridiculous arguments.
January 8th, 2014 at 5:40 am
Cassandra
My Chinhala Brother Kachcha theevu agreement have big problem !
Eg: Indian fisher man can dry their fishing net & rest in our territorial island , how this will work ???
Kachcha theevu not far from Nedun theevu ,Nedun theevu not far from Pungudu Theevu , Pungudu Theevu not far from Japana Paddina !
January 8th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
The best defense against political rhetoric is to attack it with the indisputable facts, established treaties, international laws. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will continue her tirade against Sri Lanka as her ambition to gain votes and to be on the national spotlight as the “champion on India” would hopefully gain her the top position in India. That is for the Indian voter to decide whether to place such a self serving con artist for her ability to trick, deceive and lie rather than lead. Be it their fate.
As for the Sri Lankan navy they should be commended for their professionalism in dealing with such a hysterical woman.
January 8th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
USA-Endia dispute raging well.
Hope it will WORSEN.
“PUNE, India — The Indian government demanded Wednesday that the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi cease all commercial activities — including the running of its restaurant, bowling alley and swimming pool — in a spat over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.
India has been apparently retaliating against America’s diplomats in a campaign to pressure the U.S. attorney in New York to waive charges against Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat who was strip searched by U.S. marshals when arrested in December.”
– USA today