As the Tamil Nadu police began investigation into the January 18 killing of four Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, the probe instituted by the island nation in early February remains at a standstill. Minister of fisheries and aquatic resources Douglas Devananda, the only Sri Lankan Tamil minister of cabinet rank in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa government, had launched an aggressive initiative to stop transgressions of the India-Sri Lanka maritime boundary. In an interview with Jaya Menon and M K Ananth, the minister said it was imperative to rein in bottom trawling by Tamil Nadu fishermen as it would destroy marine wealth of not just Sri Lanka, but India too.
Q: What led to the death of the four fishermen?
The Indian fishermen have given contradictory views from what the Sri Lankan Navy has stated. The autopsy report revealed there were no bullet injuries or signs of torture on the bodies of the deceased as was claimed by the Indian side. I wanted the postmortem examinations to be performed in India. But since the incident took place in Sri Lankan waters the postmortems were performed in Sri Lanka as stated by the attorney general (Sattama Athibar). High official representatives from the Indian embassy had supervised it. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has constituted a team to investigate the incident. I believe the report will reveal the truth.
Q: Will the inquiry be a fair one?
Certainly, it will be a fair one. As a responsible government we are obliged to find the truth and reveal it.
Q: Fishermen witness to the January 18 incident say the boats used by them are too small to damage SL naval vessels, as stated in the official statement.
Yes. But at the same time, SL Navy patrol boats are made of fibre. Indian fishing vessels are made of wood and iron frame, and it is reported that they can cause damage to Sri Lankan Navy boats.
Q: Is it possible to include authorities from India (especially from Tamil Nadu) to make it a joint probe to ensure fair play?
If the Indian government desires a joint probe, we won’t have any objections to it. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would like a transparent probe to settle the matter. I was made fisheries minister to ensure betterment of fishing community in the North Eastern Province, to strengthen the relationship between north and south and to strengthen ties with India – especially with Tamil Nadu. So, it is everyone’s expectation to smoothly resolve the incident.
Q: Pelting stones, hurling bottles, cutting off nets and opening fire are some of methods of the Lankan Navy to dissuade Indian fishermen from transgressing the boundary. Videos of the same have also been circulated in India. Are they not against the permitted modes of tackling intrusion into international waters?
These incidents have taken place in Sri Lankan waters close to the Lankan coast. No such incident took place in international waters. So, these incidents don’t go with the agreements pertaining to international waters. There is also a strict order that the Navy should not use guns against Indian fishermen even for self-defence. I saw a video on Tamil news channels showing efforts taken to expel Indian fishermen from Sri Lankan waters. But, it did not show any nets being cut nor use of guns. The period when the video you said was released, incidents of Indian fishermen crossing the border were on the rise. We contacted the Navy and were informed that because of Covid-19 no arrests were being made. Using this opportunity, Indian fishermen were crossing over. The government asked the Navy to take a firm stand to prevent these intrusions. In recent times, the arrests of Indian fishermen have been carried out in accordance with the legal framework of Sri Lanka.
Q: TN fishermen feel there is nothing wrong in fishing beyond the IMBL — a traditional practice carried out for decades based on mutual goodwill. Your government calls it poaching.
Roller boats with trawling nets were introduced less than 30 years ago in south India, especially in Tamil Nadu. Some investors into these boats believed to be having a political backing, wanted their trade to flourish and paid huge salaries to traditional fishermen and engaged them in roller boats. Due to the use of roller boats the fish wealth in the Indian waters depleted and they began to turn their attention across the border. As there were restrictions for Sri Lankan fishermen to fish in the Northern sea due to the civil war and as the focus of our navy was on the war, nobody was concerned about Indian roller boats fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
Q: TN fishermen say they have no option but to venture into Lankan waters as the sea bed in Indian territorial waters is shallow and rocky.
I cannot accept that the Indian sea is not conducive for fish to live. You should understand that the bottom trawling nets used by roller boats are destroying marine wealth including coral reef conducive for fish breeding and fishlings that are not ready to be caught. That is why many countries including Sri Lanka have banned this fishing practice. Without foresight, adapting the wrong fishing method has destroyed India’s marine wealth and they are engaged in destroying Sri Lanka’s marine wealth. As a solution and alternative, the Government of India is encouraging deep sea fishing and is providing assistance for it. But Indian roller boat owners are not showing interest in it.
Q: In October 2020, you were reported as being “pleased to hear about the happy news” when describing the Sri Lankan navy attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen. Is that correct?
I wish to clarify that I had only mentioned that I expressed my happiness that the Sri Lankan navy had started taking action, it was not over attacks on Tamil fishermen.
Q: In 2012, you threatened to come to Rameswaram with 5,000 fishermen and hold a mid-sea protest against ‘poaching’ by TN fishermen. Why did you back off?
Yes. I had said that. But it could not be executed due to the change in political scenario at that time.
Q: So, what is the permanent solution to end these frequent skirmishes?
As I have been insisting, Indian boats should stop crossing the border and engaging in illegal fishing practices. The two countries should then comply with a common mechanism to find a smooth solution for this issue. We cannot permit trawling method of fishing as it will destroy the future of Sri Lankan as well as Indian fishermen. Roller boat owners should immediately ditch this method of fishing.
Q: Do you see an end to this problem?
Yes, I definitely do.
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