RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1198
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2021.
INDIAN FISHERMEN KILLED BY SRI LANKAN NAVY
1198. SHRI A. VIJAYAKUMAR:
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether Indian fishermen were killed by Sri Lankan Navy in Tamil Nadu recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government has taken steps to get back Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka, which is the main cause of atrocities on India fishermen;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) & (b) According to available reports, on January 18, 2021, four fishermen lost their lives following a collision between their vessel and a Sri Lankan naval craft.
A strong protest in regard to this incident was lodged by our High Commissioner with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister. A strong demarche was also made to the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi.
Expressing our deep anguish at the loss of lives, GoI emphasized the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane manner. It was stressed that existing understandings between the two Governments in that regard must be strictly observed, and
utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence.
(c) to (e) The 1974 and 1976 Agreements on the demarcation of the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka delineated Katchatheevu as part of Sri Lankan territory. The matter is currently sub-judice.
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