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Massive TN fishing fleet poaching in SL waters: Only India’s Central Govt. can halt it – Minister Chandrasekar
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar yesterday (13) emphasised that only the Central Government of India could prevent the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet from poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
The Minister said that the Central Government of India in consultation with Tamil Nadu should without further delay deploy the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to prevent large-scale organised crossing of the Indo-Lanka maritime boundary.
The JVPer said so when The Island asked him what he intended to do to curb poaching and the destructive fishing practice known as bottom trawling practised by the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet in our waters. “Our Navy and Coast Guard regularly conduct operations in the northern waters to deter the TN fishing fleet. But only India got the wherewithal to stop this menace,” Chandrasekar said.
Responding to another query, the lawmaker stressed that the NPP government would not hesitate to take a firm stand on the issue. “We believe that India should prevent TN fishing fleet from crossing the maritime boundary,” Minister Chandrasekar said, adding that during his interactions with relevant Indian authorities and diplomatic staff, including High Commissioner Santosh Jha, he had taken up the issue.
The Minister said that he had explained the difficulties experienced by the northern fishing community due to the Indian fishers stealing their catch, when Charles Callanan, Director, UNOPS South Asia paid a courtesy call on him recently. They may not intervene or comment on this matter but there was no harm in briefing them of the actual situation on the northern seas, the Minister said.
The people of the northern and eastern regions, too, overwhelmingly voted for the NPP, the lawmaker said, adding that therefore the problems faced by the northern and eastern fishers should be addressed.
Minister Chandrasekar said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had, during his three-day official visit to New Delhi in January, raised the issue at the highest level.
Asked whether he was aware of the protests that had been directed at Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader S. Sritharan, MP, over his recent visit to see Tamil Nadu fishermen held at the Jaffna prison, Minister Chandrasekar said an NPP lawmaker too visited them. “We never sought media coverage for our visit to Jaffna prison,” Minister Chandrasekar said, adding that the government was determined to push for tangible solutions for recurring issues.
Acknowledging that various interested parties both here and in India sought political mileage at the expense of poaching by the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet, Minister Chandrasekar said that Sri Lanka had no option but to continue naval operations to deter encroachments.
Quoting northern fishers, Minister Chandrasekar alleged that at the rate Tamil Nadu fishing fleet stole Sri Lanka’s fisheries resources nothing would remain in 15 to 20 years’ time. The minister appreciated the efforts made by the navy to protect the interests of Sri Lankan fishermen.
Tamil Nadu poaching can be an issue at the forthcoming Local Government polls. There had been several incidents involving the navy and Tamil Nadu fishing vessels during the past couple of years. One incident claimed the life of a Special Boat Squadron man while two Indian fishers were shot and wounded in another. The second incident prompted India to summon Sri Lanka’s Acting HC in New Delhi to the Foreign Office where a warning was issued over the incident.
Minister Chandrasekar said that India should take meaningful measures to stop illegal fishing, thereby avoiding unnecessary incidents. The minister acknowledged that in spite of quite a number of arrests over the years, the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet seemed bent on continuing with the lucrative practice.
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that information uncovered during ongoing investigations indicated that Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, was not dead.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, the Minister said there was no confirmation that Sara Jasmine was currently in India, despite speculation to that effect. He added that investigators suspected she may have fled the country and stressed that further inquiries were underway to establish her whereabouts.
“If necessary, the government will take steps to obtain a warrant,” Wijepala said, noting that legal action related to the Easter attacks had already been initiated, based on available evidence.
Minister Wijepala said the new government had launched an thorough probe to determine whether a political or other conspiracy had been behind the attacks that killed more than 270 people in 2019. However, he declined to disclose certain details in Parliament, citing the risk of hampering investigations.
Sara Jasmine, Mohammed Hashtun, who bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, in Katuwapitiya, in 2019, was long presumed to have died in a suicide blast in Sainthamaruthu, days after the attacks. Wijepala said attempts by previous administrations to establish her death had failed, with recent reports indicating that DNA tests conducted at the time were inconclusive.
During the debate, MP Rahuman recalled that senior figures, including then-Opposition MP Nalinda Jayatissa, had previously claimed Sara Jasmine was in India. He questioned why authorities had not sought an open warrant for her arrest whether the issue had been raised in talks with Indian officials.
Wijepala, responding on behalf of Deputy Minister of Defence Arun Jayasekara, said the government would not hesitate to pursue legal action, including warrants, if necessary.
By Saman Indrajith
The Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (07). On arrival, the COAS was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.
The Indian HC said that: “He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.
During the visit, the COAS will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s strong commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Sri Lanka.
General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.”
General Dwivedi arrived here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he attended several events during 05 to 06 January.
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