Indian Navy warns fishermen not to venture into Sri Lankan territorial waters

(By: Walter Jayawardhana)

Vice Admiral Ram Prem Suthan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff designate of the Indian Navy sternly warned all Indian fishermen not to enter the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

Vice Admiral Suthan said the Sri Lankan Navy has never fired at Indian fishermen inside the Indian territorial waters, referring to allegations that some fishermen have been fired at by the Sri Lanka navy.

He said due to the military conflict going on between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lanka Navy such incidents cannot be avoided inside Sri Lanka's territorial waters. He said Indian fishermen should stop venturing into Sri Lankan waters since the Sri Lanka Navy is not permitting their own fishermen to go into those war prone waters.

The Vice admiral said Indian Navy would not allow any fisherman of their country to be fired upon in side the Indian territorial waters. Therefore, it is imperative the fisherman should remain inside the territorial waters of India for fishing.

Eleven Sri Lanka fishermen taken into custody by the Indian Coast Guard at Karaikal, last month have been handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy at the maritime border by the Indian Navy.