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Fishermen in Tamil Nadu hope that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will announce a decision to release 87 Indian boats ahead or during his visit to India starting next week.
S Venugopal, president of Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen, said it would be a great relief to fishermen if the new Sri Lankan President decided to release the boats. “But the objective of apprehending boats is to cripple fishermen from venturing into waters, and we are not sure if the new government in that country is benevolent enough to release the boats,” he opined.
Indian trawlers recently destroyed the fishing nets of Sri Lankan fishermen, and fishermen in Northern part of Sri Lanka a protested against the incident. Tamil Nadu Fishermen fear this incident would deter the Sri Lankan government from taking a positive decision.
Unlike few affluent boat owners who still can afford the loss of their boats, many of these small boat owners are finding it difficult to make a living.
Many boat owners fear that their boats have been damaged, as they have been moored at Sri Lankan jetties for months. (Times of India)
