May 20, Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathna yesterday (19) said the Indian authorities had not properly observed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in relation to the Sri Lankan fishermen arrested by them.
Senarathna told parliament that there was no provision in this Law to arrest or punish fishermen straying into foreign territorial waters and that such fishermen should be freed immediately on a bond or security.
However, Indian authorities had arrested 996 Sri Lankan fishermen during 2009 and 87 of them were still in custody, Senarathna said.
"We have secured the release of 31 of them. We have now sent air tickets to bring them home," the Minister added.
The Minister explaining the arrangements for the release of Sri Lankan fishermen in Tamil Nadu said they are usually worked out within a month with the cooperation of the State Fisheries Minister and the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner.
However, he said there was a delay of about eight months in the process in other states of India such as Orissa, Kerala, and Andra Pradesh.
"The situation is even worse in the islands of Nicobar and Andaman. These islands belong to the central government of India. There is a red tape in the process, which we have to face," he further noted.
Senarathna however said he would initiate a dialogue with the Indian government on the problems confronting fishermen.
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