Fish talks starts today

The much delayed Indo-Sri Lanka talks on the fishing duispute would resume in Colombo this morning with the main objective of plugging the drain of Rs. 95 billion worth of fisheries resources an-

The bilateral fisheries talks will start at 9.00 a.m today at the SEDEC Auditorium at Kinsey Road, Colombo 7.

nually from Sri Lanka as a result of poaching by South Indian fishermen, a senior cabinet Minister said yesterday.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said the focus of today’s bilateral talks would be to review and take remedial action to adhere to the agreement reached at the talks held in Chennai between representatives of the two countries on January 27.

The fishermen-level talks between Sri Lanka and India concluded with a number of agreements including the total suspension of fishing in the Palk Strait by Indian fishermen for one month starting from February 10.

The two sides agreed to totally ban bottomtrawling and bait-trawling in the waters in and around northern Sri Lanka and the use of illegal fishing methods.

The two sides also agreed that Sri Lanka would submit an Enjoinment Impact Assessment Report when the two sides meet in Colombo after one month to assess the progress of the implementation of the condition agreed in Chennai. “It is sad to note that the Indian side did not adhere to any of the conditions of the agreement and continued to poach and en- The talks on fishing would resume in Colombo this morning with the main objective of plugging the drain of Rs. 95 bn worth of fisheries resources gaged in Illegal, Un-reported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, depriving the livelihood of North East Sri Lankan fishermen to the tune of Rs. 95 billion annually,” Minister Senaratne charged. He added that talks would be centered on the huge environmental damage. caused to the marine eco-system.