Fishermen society delegation from North leaves for Tamil Nadu

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 August 2010, 06:01 GMT]
A delegation of 23 representatives of the fishermen societies in North will leave for Tamil Nadu Monday afternoon to Trichi to participate in meetings with the representatives of major fishermen societies in Tamil Nadu, sources in Jaffna said. Two Catholic priests from Mannaar and Jaffna who had organized the programme will be accompanying the delegation. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka government has announced that two officers of the Sri Lanka Fisheries Ministry will be present in the meetings between the representatives to be held in Tamil Nadu. This reveals the keen interest of Sri Lanka government to learn first hand the nature and scope of the meetings in Tamil Nadu, the sources added.

The aim of these meetings is to discuss issues related to fishermen from Northern province and India including the frequent attacks by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on Indian fishermen and the recent presence of Indian fishing trawlers in their thousands operating in the Northern seas of the island depriving the local fisher folk of the fish resources in their seas.

To restore cordial relationship between the fishermen of both couturiers and two create a conducive atmosphere in the areas of fishing are also the goals of the meetings.

The delegation, representing the districts of Jaffna, Ki'linochchi and Mannaar, will first visit Raameasvaram and spend two days meeting fishermen society representatives and the local fisher folk.

From Raamaesvaram the delegation will proceed to Raamanaathapuram district visiting several places after which they will meet fishermen society representatives in the coastal villages of Naakarkoayil.

In the final two days of the programme an important meeting will be held in Mathurai in which the aim of the meetings will be discussed and ways explored to realize the aims.