Lok Sabha Question No. 632 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-09
Subject: Fishermen Harassed by Sri Lankan Personnel
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: S. Jothimani, S. Venkatesan, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 632 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2022

## FISHERMEN HARASSED BY SRI LANKAN PERSONNEL

## 632. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

SHRI S. VENKATESAN: SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY: DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   Government   is   aware   of   the   increasing   incidents   of   Indian fishermen being apprehended/harassed and their fishing vessels being seized by the Sri Lankan Navy/authorities during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of Indian fishermen particularly from Tamil   Nadu   in   captivity   of   Sri   Lankan   Navy/authorities   along   with   the     boats seized/destroyed during the said period, year-wise indicating losses incurred by fishermen as a result thereof;
- (c) the number of Indian fishermen shot by Sri Lankan personnel during the said period;
- (d) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to secure the release of the captured fishermen and their fishing boats/vessels;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the diplomatic initiatives/steps taken by the Government to prevent such instances in future and check harassment of Indian fishermen; and
- (f) the   financial   assistance   provided   to   the   dependents/families   of   these fishermen during the said period?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

- (a) Indian fishermen are arrested from time to time by the Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

## (b) Details are given in the table below:

|   Year |   Number of Fishermen (from Tamil Nadu) arrested | Number of Fishermen (from Tamil Nadu) released   |   Number of Fishing boats (from Tamil Nadu) seized | Number of Fishing boats (from Tamil Nadu) released   |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
|   2019 |                                              190 | All released                                     |                                                 39 | 1                                                    |
|   2020 |                                               74 | All released                                     |                                                 11 | 1                                                    |
|   2021 |                                              143 | All released                                     |                                                 19 | 4                                                    |
|   2022 |                                              219 | 198 released                                     |                                                 30 | Nil                                                  |

(c) As per available information, in August 2021, there was an injury to one Indian fisherman due to alleged firing by Sri Lankan Navy.

(d) to (f) Our Consular officials visit the apprehended Indian fishermen to seek their welfare and provide them legal assistance along with food and other essential items.

Issues relating to Indian fishermen have been raised at the highest levels, including by our Prime Minister with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister during the Virtual Bilateral Summit held in September 2020.  In 2021, during his visit to Colombo from 5-7 January, External Affairs Minister (EAM) had met the Minister of Fisheries of Sri Lanka and discussed all issues related to Indian fishermen.  On 15 January 2022, EAM discussed the issue of early release of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody, during his virtual meeting with Finance Minister of Sri Lanka.  The matter was also discussed by EAM with the Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries, during his visit to Sri Lanka in March 2022.

Government of India attaches the highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. Following the 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 and meeting of the Ministers for Fisheries of the two countries was institutionalized to address the fishermen issues with Sri Lanka. On 25 th March 2022, 5 th Round of JWG was organized between the two governments where the entire gamut of issues related to fishermen was discussed.

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