SLN creates rift between Northern, Tamil Nadu fishermen

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 August 2010, 07:33 GMT]
Local fishermen in Valveddiththu'rai in Northern Sri Lanka, urged by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), chased away the Indian fishing trawlers illegally fishing in Valveddiththu'ai seas Tuesday night as talks between the fisheries society representatives of Tamil Nadu and Northern Sri Lanka began Wednesday. Fishermen societies in Jaffna peninsula appealed to the local fishermen not to fall prey to the malicious efforts of Sri Lanka government and its armed forces to ruin the cordial relationship between the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Northern Sri Lanka, sources in Vadamaraadchi said.

North Sri Lanka fishermen societies warned that the Tuesday incident is an attempt by Sri Lanka government and its armed forces occupying Jaffna peninsula to cause rift between the fishermen of North Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the Joint Association for Innocent Fishermen welcomed the representatives from North Sri Lanka who arrived in Trichi to engage in talks with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu.

Preventing Indian fishing trawlers trespassing the seas of Northern Sri Lanka is the duty of Sri Lanka government and SLN but instead of performing their duty they are attempting to set local fishermen upon Indian fishermen with the motive to destroy relationship between them, the fisheries society representatives said.

The aim of the talks is to create an understanding between the fishermen of both countries so as to engage in fishing in the seas between Northern Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu in a peaceful atmosphere, they added.