by Our Correspondent in Dew Delhi
New Delhi – The scheduled official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka has been cancelled due to the current polarized political situation in the island nation, informed sources in New Delhi confirmed. This decision comes amidst heightened tensions following a maritime incident that has further strained relations between the two countries.
On 1 August, India lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over an alleged collision between a Sri Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat that resulted in the death of one fisherman and left another missing. The incident occurred early Thursday morning, approximately five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu Island. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the collision involved a Sri Lankan naval vessel and an Indian fishing boat carrying four fishermen. One fisherman tragically lost his life, while another remains missing. The two remaining fishermen were rescued and brought ashore to Kankesanthurai.
In response to the incident, the Indian MEA summoned Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner to India, Priyanga Wickremesinghe, on Thursday morning to register a formal protest. “We expressed our shock and anguish at the unfortunate loss of life,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry stated. The Indian government has consistently emphasized the importance of handling issues related to fishermen with humanity and compassion.
Indian officials from the consulate in Jaffna have been directed to provide all possible assistance to the affected fishermen and their families. Meanwhile, India’s High Commissioner in Colombo, Santosh Jha, is set to raise the matter with the Sri Lankan government.
The collision comes in the wake of a previous incident in July, where a Sri Lankan Navy personnel was killed during an operation to seize an Indian fishing boat. These incidents highlight the ongoing tensions and challenges in managing the maritime boundary between the two nations. However, when an Indian fisherman killed a Sri Lankan Navy sailor in Sri Lankan waters, the Sri Lankan government and responsible officials were slow to respond, demonstrating a fragile protest against the incident. Informed sources indicate that a mid-level senior officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the media officer in the Indian High Commission to visit the Ministry to express Sri Lanka’s protest over the killing of the sailor.
The Sri Lankan Navy, in a media release, stated that the recent incident occurred after the Indian fishing boat, which was allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters, capsized during an interception attempt. Both India and Sri Lanka frequently arrest fishermen from each other’s countries on charges of violating maritime boundaries or engaging in illegal fishing activities. South Indian fishermen continue to exploit the fishing yields in Sri Lankan waters despite maritime agreements.
India’s MEA reiterated the need for strict adherence to existing agreements between the two governments concerning fishermen’s issues and stressed that all efforts should be made to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and avoid the use of force.
During a recent visit to India, Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tharaka Balasuriya, emphasized the need for a sustainable and cooperative approach to resolving the longstanding fishermen issue between the two countries. The Indian government has continually highlighted the safety and security of Indian fishermen as a top priority, raising the issue at the highest levels with Sri Lankan leadership.
