OPS takes exception to Lankan ministers' remarks

"I strongly urge the Government of India to register its disapproval of such remarks in the strongest possible terms at the appropriate level. Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa had repeatedly brought to your personal attention our concerns over the Sri Lankan government’s strategy of delaying the release of the boats and fishing gear of our fishermen which caused great loss of livelihood to our fishermen and their families," he added. Stating that as till date, 114 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen were in Lankan custody, the chief minister pointed out that that 80 fishing boats of fishermen from Tamil Nadu apprehended by Lankan Navy during the year 2014 were released only in 2015. "This is not the first time that such reports are appearing and on an earlier occasion on Apart 1, 2016, Lankan minister for fisheries, Mahinda Amaraweera said Lanka had approached the competent Courts for permission to give away the fishing boats and gear of Tamil Nadu fishermen to the fishermen of Northern Sri Lanka and to scrap and auction the boats which are unusable," Panneerselvam recalled. Panneerselvam urged the Centre to take steps to ensure that the boats and fishing gear of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody were returned to the Tamil Nadu fishermen in a refurbished condition at the earliest.