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India and Sri Lanka have long shared a deep-rooted relationship, bound by geography, history, and culture. Over the years, India has played a crucial role in supporting Sri Lanka, particularly during times of crisis. One of the most significant moments of this support was during the economic crisis of 2022, when India was the first to extend a helping hand, providing financial and other assistance. Additionally, India’s contributions to Sri Lanka’s development, particularly in the Northern and Upcountry regions, have been extensive and meaningful. 

Despite this goodwill and cooperation, one persistent issue threatens to sour the otherwise strong ties between the two countries: the ongoing problem of illegal fishing by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters. Successive governments on both sides have largely avoided tackling this issue head-on, allowing it to fester into a potential diplomatic flashpoint.

Last week, this issue was once again brought to the forefront by Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power (NPP) Minister Bimal Ratnayake. Speaking in Parliament, Ratnayake made an impassioned plea to India for assistance in resolving the crisis, urging both the Indian government and the Tamil Nadu administration to take decisive action against illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

“The governments of India and Tamil Nadu must take decisive action against illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters to ensure that the livelihoods of northern Sri Lankan fishermen are protected,” Ratnayake stated. He acknowledged India’s past assistance, both during Sri Lanka’s civil war and the more recent economic crisis, but emphasised that real help would come in the form of safeguarding the livelihoods of Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen. Minister Ratnayake who is largely credited with harnessing the Northern vote in favour of the NPP at the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections last year went on to point out that “The people of the north rely solely on fisheries for a living. I request the Indian Government, as well as the Tamil Nadu Government, to ensure that this main source of livelihood is not snatched away from them.”

The issue is not just about protecting territorial waters; it is a matter of survival for many Sri Lankan fishing communities. Northern fishermen, particularly those in Mannar and Jaffna, have reported severe economic distress due to the depletion of fish stocks caused by illegal trawling. Many have seen their incomes shrink drastically, with earnings that once took a day to secure now requiring several days at sea.

The Devastating Impact of Bottom Trawling

The method of fishing used by Indian fishermen—bottom trawling—has raised serious environmental and economic concerns. Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Parliamentarian Thurairasa Ravikaran did not mince words when he described the situation in Parliament: “Over 500 Indian trawlers come into our seas and ravage them periodically… like a gang of thieves, they take away all our fish.”

Bottom trawling is an indiscriminate and highly destructive fishing practice that involves dragging heavy nets along the seabed, capturing all marine life in its path. This method not only depletes fish stocks but also destroys coral reefs and other marine habitats, causing long-term damage to the ecosystem. “The bottom trawling method is like a bulldoser,” Ravikaran explained. “It damages our coral reefs, it destroys all marine organisms and causes severe environmental damage according to scientists.”

Recognising the severity of the problem, former Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council, C.V. Wigneswaran, recently wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, urging him to put an end to bottom trawling and protect the livelihoods of fishermen on both sides of the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka’s current Minister of Fisheries, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, also weighed in, highlighting that the use of bottom trawlers by Tamil Nadu-based fishermen remains the chief concern of Sri Lanka’s northern fishing communities.

A Matter of Deliberate Encroachment

The problem of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters is not merely an issue of accidental straying. These are not small-scale fishermen drifting into foreign territory by mistake; they are large multi-day trawlers owned by powerful fishing interests in Tamil Nadu, deliberately encroaching into Sri Lankan waters. Their repeated incursions are not only a violation of Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity but also a blatant act of resource exploitation.

While the Sri Lankan Navy does its best to intercept and arrest Indian fishermen, this has proven to be an ineffective deterrent. Arrested fishermen are often released after diplomatic interventions, and the practice continues unabated. It is evident that a more systemic solution is required—one that must come from India itself.

The Role of India in Resolving the Issue

India has the capacity to address this issue decisively. Enacting and enforcing stricter laws that criminalise illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters could be a game-changer. The powerful Indian Coast Guard could be deployed to patrol the waters more effectively, preventing encroachments before they happen. Additionally, Tamil Nadu’s state government must take responsibility for regulating its fishing community and transitioning them to more sustainable fishing practices.

India has long emphasised its “Neighbourhood First” policy, positioning itself as a reliable friend and partner to its regional neighbors. Addressing the concerns of Sri Lanka’s northern fishing communities aligns with this principle and would reinforce India’s commitment to regional stability and cooperation.

An Opportunity for Resolution

The forthcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in April presents an opportune moment for both countries to address and resolve this pressing issue. Sri Lanka must take this chance to engage in high-level diplomatic discussions with India, urging the Modi administration to take concrete steps toward preventing illegal fishing.

For too long, the problem has been met with inaction and half-measures. If not addressed decisively, it could escalate to the point of permanently damaging the goodwill between the two nations. India’s assistance to Sri Lanka in times of need has been invaluable, but true partnership is demonstrated, as pointed out by Minister Bimal Ratnayake, not only in times of crisis but also in addressing longstanding grievances that affect ordinary people’s lives.

The livelihoods of Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen hang in the balance. It is time for both governments to move beyond rhetoric and implement real, lasting solutions to put an end to illegal fishing once and for all.

(javidyusuf@gmail.com)