Thu Mar 06 08:32:30 UTC 2025: ## Sri Lanka Demands Action Against Illegal Indian Fishing

**Colombo, March 6, 2025** – Sri Lanka’s government has issued a strong appeal to India and the Tamil Nadu state government to address the ongoing issue of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The plea, made in parliament by Minister Bimal Rathnayake, highlights the devastating impact of bottom trawling by Indian fishermen on the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen in the north.

Rathnayake emphasized the significant assistance India and Tamil Nadu have provided Sri Lanka in the past, but stressed that decisive action against illegal fishing is crucial for protecting the northern fishing communities’ primary source of income. He underscored the severe depletion of fish stocks and the damage to coral reefs caused by the destructive bottom trawling method, which he described as akin to “a bulldozer.”

The issue was further highlighted by ITAK legislator Thurairasa Ravikaran, who made an impassioned plea for the protection of Sri Lankan fishermen, urging authorities to stop the destructive practice. Ravikaran revealed that over 540 Indian fishermen were arrested in 2024 and over 100 in the first two months of 2025 for illegal fishing, but estimates suggest that the actual number of Indian vessels engaging in illegal fishing is far higher. He specifically cited Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu as a major origin point for these vessels.

The problem, long-standing and deeply sensitive, has recently gained renewed prominence amidst Sri Lanka’s budget session. Opposition MP Mano Ganesan has urged Minister Rathnayake to raise the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to Sri Lanka. This echoes a similar call from former Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, who wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin last week to address the problem. The Sri Lankan government has warned of significant socio-economic consequences if the issue remains unresolved, potentially leading to widespread protests from affected fishing communities.

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