Our President holding talks with your PM on fishers issue: SL min

Chennai: The sore issue of frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen was raised yet again with Sri Lankan fisheries minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, who insisted that brutal plundering of the sea off the island nation was the biggest provocation. "Our President (Anura Dissanayake) is holding talks with your Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and there will be an announcement soon in two or three weeks' time," said the minister during a media interaction at Katchatheevu on Saturday soon after the two-day St Antony's church festival held in the islet ended.
"Bottom trawling by your fishermen destroys our sea and our fish catch and goes against our laws. It has been banned. But your fishermen continue to enter our waters and plunder our seas," said Ramalingam. He said the issue of arrested fishermen who are lodged in Lanka prisons and about freeing them and the risks posed to sea catch, and their waters due to bottom trawling were also discussed. "Despite India too banning it, fishermen continue to pursue it. They operate like kings and kingdoms (to exploit the sea unmindful of laws and rules in place). We are trying to change all that and bring new hope in the lives of our fishermen," said the minister. When it was pointed out that some "innocent TN fishermen" were being arrested without any basis and imposed huge fines, Ramalingam said, "It is the law which is taking its course. After TN election, we will visit the state, talk to fishermen in various regions." When journalists mentioned that TVK president and actor Vijay too had demanded that Katchatheevu should be "retrieved", Ramalingam said, "You people have been demanding Katchatheevu for the last 50 years. This is because of elections to get more votes. Let us see after the election ends." When asked what if India asked for Katchatheevu, he said, "Let them ask we'll see then. Now Katchatheevu belongs to Sri Lanka." On the St Anthony's Church festival, Ramalingam said, "We have never seen such a crowd. It is a historical high, with around 12,500 people taking part. About 4,000 people came from India. People cutting across religions, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sinhalese, every religion participated. It was organised in a grand manner and showed that people feel safe."