Published: January 28, 2025 7:16 pm
Author: RT
New Delhi has condemned alleged use of force by Sri Lanka amid an ongoing dispute over fishing rights
India has condemned the Sri Lankan Navy following reports it opened fire during the arrest of 13 Indian fishermen in disputed waters of the Palk Strait, off the northern coast of the island nation.
Reports emerged on Tuesday that Colombo’s forces discharged weapons when they seized the men in the proximity of Delft Island. Five fishermen were reportedly injured, including two seriously. They are currently receiving treatment at Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the acting high commissioner of Sri Lanka later the same day and lodged a strong protest, it said in a statement.
“The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed,” New Delhi said.
The Sri Lankan Navy said in a statement that its was “compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding” when the Indian fishing boat “aggressively” evaded lawful orders. During the attempted seizure, the fishermen acted confrontationally and tried to assault naval personnel, the statement noted. “In the process, an accidental fire has taken place, causing slight injuries to two Indian fishermen,” it added.
The incident underscores unresolved tensions between the two countries regarding contested fishing rights in the strait. Arrests and detentions of Indian fishermen have become a frequent occurrence, prompting diplomatic action by both the Indian central and state governments.
Last year saw a political row in New Delhi over the small uninhabited island of Katchatheevu, which was at the center of a territorial dispute between India and Sri Lanka in the 1970s. Ahead of general elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused its main rival Congress of “weakening” the country by ceding the territory to its neighbor in 1974.
READ MORE: India to supply LNG and lay pipelines to island neighbor
Tuesday’s episode comes a month after Sri Lanka’s newly-elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, visited New Delhi and held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders said they agreed to focus on “investment-led growth” and “physical, digital, and energy connectivity” as key pillars of the nations’ economic partnership. Officials also inked a number of energy deals that would allow Sri Lanka access to supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Modi and Dissanayake also discussed issues related to the livelihoods of fishermen and agreed to “proceed with a humanitarian approach to this matter.”
