RAMNAD/COLOMBO: A group of fishermen from Rameswaram were chased away from Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday by their counterparts in the Island nation, who allegedly hurled petrol bombs at them.
According toRameswaram Fishermen Cooperative Societies president Devadas, the fishermen, who were reportedly using banned nets in Lankan waters, were chased away by the Lankan fishermen, who also hurled petrol bombs at them.
However, no one sustained injuries in the attack and neither were any boats damaged, he added. Sources said that around 670 mechanised boats ventured into the sea on Monday. Some of them were using banned nets in Lankan waters, despite a warning from the Indian government not to use the particular nets, especially the double net variety, as it affected the livelihood of the Lankan fishermen.
Sources in the Fisheries Department said, “So far, none of the fishermen have lodged a complaint regarding the incident.”
Kalam Moots 50:50 Sharing Rights
To end the interminable Indo-Lankan row over fishing rights in the sea between South Tamil Nadu and North Lanka, former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday made two inter-related suggestions.
Kalam’s primary suggestion was that the fishermen of the two counties should share, on a 50:50 basis, the fishing rights in the disputed area. The second suggestion was that the two fishing communities should take to deep sea fishing in international waters, where there were no hindrances to fishing.He also recommended deep sea fishing, saying that it could be a money spinner.