India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has registered its strong protest with Sri Lanka over the death of an Indian fisherman following a collision between a Sri Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat near Katchatheevu island today.
According to the Indian Foreign Ministry, the ministry summoned the Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the incident.
“We expressed our shock and anguish at the unfortunate loss of life. Our High Commissioner in Colombo will also be raising the matter with the Sri Lankan government later today.
“The Government of India has always emphasised the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to Indian media, concerns were raised after a collision between a Sri Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat near Katchatheevu island left one fisherman dead and another missing.
The collision occurred about 5 nautical miles north of Katchatheevu Island on Thursday morning. Of the four fishermen on the boat, two were rescued and taken to Kankesanthurai.
A search is underway for the missing fisherman, the ministry said. Indian Consulate officials in Jaffna have been asked to urgently go to Kankesanthurai to support the fishermen and their families, it added.
Katchatheevu Island, situated between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, was traditionally used by fishermen from both countries. In 1974, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi agreed to cede Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka under the “Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement.”
This agreement confirmed Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the island and addressed historic waters between Sri Lanka and India in the Palk Strait and Palk Bay. But Indian fishermen are allowed to access the island, as per the agreement. (Newswire/ Hindustan Times)
