Fishing fiasco

One of the major issues escaping the radar in Colombo but still an irritant with neighbouring India is that of poaching in the Palk Strait. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera rushed to New Delhi last weekend, hopefully armed with the facts on this vexatious issue, a matter that involves multi-issues; Sri Lanka's sovereignty, the livelihood of Lankan fishermen, the Lankan economy and its marine environment.

India seems to be parrying the issue (Please see interview with the Minister on Page 8). Citing the "livelihood" of it citizens, India wants to drag it out. In an INSIGHT investigation by this newspaper (which won a Journalism Award last year) we pointed out that the powerful boats that invade Sri Lankan waters thrice a week, every week, are linked to Tamil Nadu politicians and the southern Indian state's hugely profitable fish export industry -- at the expense of Sri Lanka.

The Minister's next trip appears to be to the European Union to negotiate on the 'red flag' notice on Sri Lankan fish exports due to illegal fishing methods adopted. He is surely not going to complain about the illegal fishing methods of the Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait. The EU is an importer of Tamil Nadu fish products.

The two Governments, India and Sri Lanka, have left it to the respective fishermen's associations to thrash out a compromise when they meet in Chennai next week. That is exactly what the Indian side wants; a delaying tactic. Sri Lanka has no formula of its own and allows India to lead the way. And until then, it seems an 'arrest and release; arrest and release' policy by Sri Lanka. For the Indian side, that is an occupational hazard; for Sri Lanka, an occupational disaster.