New Delhi: During a question hour session in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed concerns regarding Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka. He pointed out that the current government inherited this longstanding issue, which dates back to agreements made in 1974 and 1976.
Explaining Sri Lanka’s legal stance on the matter, Mr. Jaishankar stated, “Sri Lanka operates under two key laws—the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act of 1996 and the Fisheries Regulation of Foreign Fishing Boats of 1979. Both laws were further amended in 2018 and 2023, introducing stricter penalties, higher fines, and extended periods of detention.”
He emphasized that many of those facing legal consequences in Sri Lanka are either boat owners, vessel captains, or repeat offenders, making diplomatic resolution more complex. He attributed the core of the ongoing issue to the demarcation of the international maritime boundary in 1974 and the subsequent exchange of letters in 1976, which determined fishing rights.
“Our government has, in a way, inherited this challenge. The origin of this problem lies in the maritime boundary agreement established in 1974, followed by jurisdictional decisions in 1976,” Mr. Jaishankar explained in response to a question raised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva.
He also highlighted that the majority of the detained fishermen hail from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry due to their geographical proximity to Sri Lankan waters.
“As Sri Lanka is the neighboring country, it is natural that most of the fishermen affected belong to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” he noted.
Providing an update on the situation, Mr. Jaishankar reported that as of the previous day, 86 Indian fishermen were in Sri Lankan custody. However, with the recent apprehension of a trawler carrying 11 more fishermen, the total number of detainees has now risen to 97. Among them, 83 are serving sentences, three are awaiting trial, and the remaining 11 were newly detained.
Earlier that day, the Sri Lankan Navy intercepted 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen and transported them to the Kangesanthurai Naval camp for further inquiry, according to officials. The Rameswaram Fishermen Association confirmed that these fishermen had been operating a single boat in the Bay of Bengal when they were detained.
Meanwhile, seven Indian fishermen who had been previously arrested were released and arrived at Chennai Airport. Four of them had been taken into custody on February 20, while the other three were detained on February 22 on allegations of crossing maritime borders.
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