Lanka acted contrary to understanding with New DelhiAuctioning of seized fishing boats:

Contrary to a bilateral understanding between the government of India and Sri Lanka, the latter has not allowed a delegation from Tamil Nadu to visit Jaffna to finalise modalities regarding the disposal of unsalvageable Indian fishing boats, says the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

In response to a query by The Island on Thursday (10) night regarding auctioning of Indian fishing vessels caught poaching here, the Indian High Commission issued the following statement:” High Commission of India has seen several reports and statements regarding auctioning of Indian fishing vessels in Sri Lanka.

At the outset, it is stressed that there is an existing bilateral understanding between the Government of India and Government of Sri Lanka on the matter. In accordance with this understanding, a team from the State of Tamil Nadu, India was to visit Srse disposal of unsalvageable Indian fishing boats in Sri Lanka. The High Commission has recently again sought necessary clearance from Government of Sri Lanka for the visit.”

Recently, Sri Lanka auctioned 135 Indian fishing boats that had been seized in Sri Lankan waters in the recent months. The auction was held at Karainagar, Jaffna. Jaffna media reported that a 48-foot-long trawler fetched the highest price at the auctionSover Rs.1.3 million.

The auction was held in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urging the Union government to pressure the Sri Lankan government to stop the auctioning of seized boats.

There were protests in Jaffna recently against the killing of two northern fishermen, allegedly by Indian fishers. In a separate incident, a Sri Lankan Fast Attack Craft suffered minor damages as a result of some Indian fishing vessels responding aggressively to patrol boats engaged in counter-poaching operations in northern waters (SF)