Sri Lanka had no choice but to auction Tamil Nadu vessels: Douglas Devananda

‘India said they could not award compensation for northern Sri Lankan fishermen

According to Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, India “delaying” assistance promised to northern Sri Lankan fishermen, a space constraint along the coast, and the risk of dengue and pollution from old, damaged fishing vessels berthed along the northern coastline left Sri Lanka with little choice but to auction the Indian boats.

The Minister said he had earlier sought Indian assistance to the tune of LKR 500 million (roughly $2.5 million) to support northern Sri Lankan fishermen, whose nets and livelihoods were “destroyed” by bottom trawlers originating from India and found fishing in Sri Lankan waters in the narrow Palk Strait. “India said they cannot award compensation but would support livelihood programmes for fishermen. We are still awaiting an update on that,” he told The Hindu on Wednesday.

In recent protests, northern Sri Lankan fishermen accused the Minister, an MP from Jaffna district, of failing to ensure implementation of Sri Lankan laws on bottom trawling and illegal fishing.