Lok Sabha Question No. 3865 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Fishermen killed by Sri Lankan Navy
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ANBUMANI RAMADOSS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3865 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## FISHERMEN KILLED BY SRI LANKAN NAVY

3865. SHRI S. SELVAKUMARA CHINNAYAN: DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Sri  Lankan  Navy  has  killed  and  arrested  Indian fishermen  and  damaged/seized  their  trawlers  (boats),  fishing nets, etc.;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  Indian  fishermen  killed  and  arrested during the current year; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  find  a permanent solution of the above problem of fishermen and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

- (a) & (b) According  to  available  reports,  a  fishing  vessel  from Tamil  Nadu  was  fired  upon  in  Palk  Bay  at  around  2230  hrs  on  6 March  2017,  leading  to  the  death  of  an  Indian  fisherman  named Britjo  and  injury to  another.  The  Sri  Lankan  side  denied  the involvement  of  their  Navy  in  the  firing  incident.  However,  the Government of Sri Lanka has ordered a full investigation. Instances of Indian fishermen apprehended for alleged fishing   in Sri Lankan waters  have  been  reported  from  time  to  time.  So  far  in  2017,  215 Indian fishermen and 37 fishing vessels have been apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities. With sustained diplomatic efforts, Government  could  secure  the  release  of  200  fishermen  from  Sri Lankan custody.
- (c) Government has taken up the fishermen issues at the highest level,  including  by  the  Prime  Minister  with  the  visiting  Sri  Lankan

Prime Minister in April 2017 and with the Sri Lankan President and Prime  Minister  during  his  visit  to  Sri  Lanka  in  May  2017.  External Affairs  Minister  also  raised  the  matter  with  the  visiting  Sri  Lankan Prime Minister in April 2017 and subsequently with the Sri Lankan Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  during  the  latter's  visit  to  India  in  June 2017.

Following  our  2+2  initiative  in  November  2016  when  the Foreign  and  Fisheries  Ministers  of  the  two  countries  met  in  New Delhi,  a  bilateral  Joint  Working  Group  (JWG)  mechanism  was institutionalized to address the fishermen issues. It was also agreed that  Ministers  for  Fisheries  of  the  two  countries  meet  every  six months  to  review  the  progress.  So  far  two  rounds  of  the  JWG meeting have been held. The 2nd meeting of the JWG held on 7 April 2017 in Colombo took stock of the implementation of the Confidence Building  Measures  (CBMs)  agreed  to  by  both  sides  pending  a permanent solution to the fishermen issues.

Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  encourage  our fishermen  to  diversify  into  deep-sea  fishing  using  tuna  long-liners. An amount  of  Rupees  200 crore has been allocated by the Government during the current financial year as its share to support the fishermen under the 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing' scheme. As  part  of  the  efforts  to  rehabilitate  the  fishermen,  training  and capacity  building  programmes  commenced in January 2017. Three batches of fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been trained so far in deep-sea fishing, long-lining and onboard handling and processing of fish.  Among  other  initiatives  jointly  implemented  with  the  State Government  of  Tamil  Nadu,  construction  of  fishing  harbours  at Kunthukal and Mookaiyur is currently in progress.

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