India on Tuesday lodged a “strong protest” against the Sri Lankan navy using force over Tamil fishermen for fishing in the international waters.
India criticised the incident of firing by the Sri Lankan navy patrol team, at Delft Island, which sought to apprehend the fishermen on charges of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters in the early hours of Tuesday.
A press statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said that “the acting high commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi was summoned to the MEA office and a strong protest was lodged over the incident. Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government.”
The Sri Lankan navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the proximity of Delft Island opened fire causing serious injuries.
“Out of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel, two have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Three other fishermen received minor injuries and have been treated for the same. Indian Consulate Officials in Jaffna have visited the injured fishermen at the hospital to seek their welfare and are extending all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families,” the MEA release said.
Following this, New Delhi informed the acting Sri Lankan High Commissioner that it had emphasised the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns.
“The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two governments in this regard must be strictly observed,” the release added.
