News
Navy Commander explains persistent problem of large number of Indian vessels poaching in SL waters
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka has a 5,000-boat strong high seas fishing fleet which can go up to 2,000 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera said.In contrast, the Indian fishing industry, while not as technologically advanced, has expanded to a point of being unsustainable, he said.
“They have a large number of boats, but they can operate only in their coastal seas and then they poach in our territorial waters using disastrous mechanized bottom trawling techniques,” he said.
Vice Admiral Perera highlighted that the Indian fishing industry has expanded beyond a sustainable capacity. Typically, Indian fishermen, operating within their own waters, are permitted to fish on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. He noted that, in a few weeks, they will suspend fishing for a three-month period, allowing fish to breed and replenish the ocean.
“However, Indian fishing boats who claim to engage in high seas fishing face no such restrictions. However, instead of going into the high seas these vessels come to Sri Lankan waters and poach here. The area around Delft Island and in the five to 10 nautical mile shallow seas off Point Pedro have a lot of crabs and prawns. This is a high value yield. Sri Lankan vessels go into the high seas and catch tuna, which brings a lot of money. During meetings with Indian counterparts, our Ministry officials asked Indians why they can’t also follow suit,” he said.
Vice Admiral Perera emphasized that Sri Lankan fishing is subject to rigorous regulations. Fishermen based in Sri Lanka’s North are not equipped for high-seas operations; instead, their focus remains on harvesting prawns and crabs, the Navy commander said.
“Compared to South, East and North Central provinces where fishermen are more likely to engage in high seas fishing, there are only a few fisheries harbours in the North. Myliddy Fishery Harbour is the only place the Northern fishermen must dock large boats. One also needs to have other supporting industries in place for high seas fishing, and these, too, are lacking in the North,” he said.
Indian fishermen also destroy large quantities of equipment of Northern fishermen, he said, adding that he Navy has apprehended 15 Indian trawlers along with 110 of their fishermen in Sri Lankan waters so far in 2024.
“This has not put an end to Indian poaching. When we make arrests, they stop coming for a week or two but return in numbers later. On Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays there are about 400 Indian fishing vessels poaching in Sri Lankan waters around Katchatheevu Island. Another 200 operate around KKS and in the East on those days. So, on average around 600 Indian vessels poach in our waters on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. We can’t stop them by using excessive force,” he said.
The Navy commander added that the Navy can’t stop such a large number of Indian vessels with three or four boats. This can only be stopped through a change in the way Indians practice their craft.
“It is not practically possible to seize hundreds of fishing vessels. Also these arrests lead to political implications. We must think of everything.”
The relationship between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen have deteriorated, too, he said. However, the tensions so far are limited to South India and Sri Lanka’s North.
The Navy commander went on to say that this is not an indication of tensions between India and Sri Lanka. “But the solution to this problem seems far off unless the Indians change their practices,” he said.
The latest fuel price increases have sparked widespread concern among transport operators and raised questions about the government’s supportive measures. Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr Nalinda Jayathissa told a media briefing yesterday that the government was incurring a monthly loss of Rs. 20 billion by maintaining subsidies on fuel. According to the Minister, the state loses Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol under the current pricing system, a burden that the Treasury continues to absorb as part of a “supportive mechanism.”
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) revised fuel prices from midnight on March 21, raising the price of a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel by Rs. 79 to Rs. 382, Super Diesel by Rs. 90 to Rs. 443, Octane 95 petrol by Rs. 90 to Rs. 455, and Octane 92 petrol by Rs. 81 to Rs. 398. Lanka Kerosene was increased by Rs. 60,bringing the price to Rs. 255 per litre. Other suppliers, including Sinopec and Lanka IOC, also implemented similar hikes, with Sinopec’s Super Diesel rising sharply by Rs. 219 to Rs. 572 per litre.
The surge in fuel prices has had an immediate impact on public transport. The Chairman of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association, Gamunu Wijerathne, told The Island that 90% of private buses were off the road yesterday (22). He called for a 15% increase in bus fares, raising the minimum fare from Rs. 27 to Rs. 35, warning that services could be suspended if fare adjustments are not approved.
Three-wheeler operators have also pressed for immediate fare revisions. L. Rohana Perera, General Secretary of the National Joint Three-Wheeler and Industrialists’ Association, said the rising fuel costs have made it difficult for drivers to continue operating. The Association has proposed a Rs. 20 increase for the first kilometre fare for all meter-operated three-wheelers and plans to present its concerns to the Presidential Secretariat.
Fuel price monitoring has also intensified amid concerns over potential smuggling. A senior police officer told The Island that intelligence units have been deployed near fuel stations to prevent hoarding. The police suspect that certain fuel station employees and owners could be facilitating stockpiling.
Political leaders have warned that the hikes will ripple across the economy. SJB MP S.M. Marikkar said transport cost increases will drive up the prices of essential goods such as rice and fish, leaving consumers struggling under rising costs.
Import and export container transportation charges will be increased by 20% from midnight yesterday (22) due to the recent fuel price hike, according to the Container Transport Vehicle Owners’ Association.
The latest increases follow two rounds of price hikes since March 9, driven by surging global oil prices amid the Middle East conflict. Since then, Lanka Petrol 92 Octane has risen by Rs. 105 to Rs. 398, Petrol 95 Octane by Rs. 115 to Rs. 455, Auto Diesel by Rs. 101 to Rs. 382, and Super Diesel by Rs. 114 to Rs. 443 representing an overall increase of around 35% across key fuel categories.
by Norman Palihawadane and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
At the award presentation ceremony of the International Rehabilitation Institute last week, Professor G.L. Peiris, as Chief Guest, in his keynote address, dealt with the special relevance of rehabilitation at this time. The traditional criminal law makes provision for punishment after a crime has been committed, and punishment usually takes the form of a prison sentence. It is even more important, however, to explore practical means of prevention and also to have recourse to a custodial sentence as a last resort rather than as the typical response.
The modern approach is that punishment is seen not as retributive but as a means of rehabilitating the offender in society. Prison sentences, bringing a first offender into the prison environment and association with habitual offenders, carries the risk of recidivism, the available statistics indicating the likelihood of return to prison on repeated occasions.
He placed emphasis on the importance of informed social attitudes to ensure that an offender does not carry a permanent stigma, reducing his opportunities for employment and acceptance in society. The importance of religious instruction in early childhood, and the close connection between temple and village, was stressed.
Professor Peiris was honoured with an award of appreciation by academic colleagues.
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has resumed parking fees in the city with effect from today (23).
Parking management and fee collection will recommence from 6 am, following a decision by the Finance Standing Committee of the Council.
Charges were temporarily suspended from March 18 due to heavy traffic and long queues near fuel stations. Authorities said the situation had improved with the introduction of the QR code system and odd-even rationing.
Fuel price hikes trigger transport disruptions and calls for fare increases
Prof. Peiris honoured by International Institute of Rehabilitation
CMC resumes parking fees
Substandard coal deepens energy crisis, warns former CEB Chief
Sri Lanka, ICRC to develop unified national database for missing persons
Experts urge hydration and fruit intake amid heatwave
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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