Indian Fishermen Must End Protests, Say Jaffna District Fishermen

17-Aug-2025

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The Jaffna District Fishermen’s Association has emphasized that Indian fishing owners and political actors are misleading innocent Indian fishermen for their own benefit, and therefore, fishermen must recognize the truth and end the protests.

They conveyed this during a press meeting held on August 15 at the Association’s main office on Jaffna Main Street.

The chairman of the Jaffna District Fishermen’s Cooperative Societies Federation, Sellathurai Narkunam, stated that fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who illegally exploit the northern sea resources under the pretext of fishing, must stop their activities. 

Tamil Nadu fishermen have been detained in Sri Lankan prisons for illegally exploiting resources within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

This matter is a sovereign issue of Sri Lanka. Those organizing protests in Tamil Nadu must understand this. However, Indian fishing owners and political actors are misguiding innocent Indian fishermen for their benefit. Therefore, the protests must be stopped.

Meanwhile, Bakkiyanathan Reagan, an executive member of the Federation, emphasized that Indian trawlers must cease illegal fishing operations. Sri Lanka is a sovereign nation with clearly defined legal boundaries. 

The current government also maintains strong security. Any violation of these territorial boundaries will be met with legal action by the Sri Lankan authorities. 

Only the innocent Indian fishermen will be affected, not the moneyed and politically-backed operators who send them illegally. Hence, fishing in the northern seas under false pretexts must stop.