Fisheries Minister – Douglas Devananda has informed Tamil Nadu authorities that Indian fishermen will not be allowed to fish in Sri Lankan waters.
According to the state owned publication – ‘Dinamina’, the minister had reportedly told Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister – Anitha R. Radhakrishnan over the phone, that a request made by the Tamil Nadu administration in this regard, couldn’t be granted.
Devananda has declared that he was opposed to allowing Tamil Nadu fishermen access until a permanent solution, acceptable to both countries, could be reached.
The minister has stressed that his participation in talks meant to settle this issue would depend on an assurance given by the Tamil Nadu administration that poaching would be halted, pending an amicable settlement.
(Source : Dinamina)
