India seeks paid licence for fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters

22 Feb, 2023

By Easwaran Rutnam

India has proposed that licences be sold to its fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters to catch fish.

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament today that the proposal had been put forward during talks held between Sri Lanka and India to resolve the fishing dispute.

Sabry said that for Sri Lanka to consider such a proposal there needs to be a decision on how far the Indians can enter Sri Lankan waters and if Sri Lankan fishermen will agree to the request.

The Minister also said that if such licences are sold to Indian fishermen then the Sri Lankan Government needs to decide if the money can be divided among Sri Lankan fishermen.

The Foreign Minister said that while the proposal was being discussed the priority of the Sri Lankan Government is the interest of Sri Lankan fishermen.

However, he said that Sri Lanka will not agree to bottom trawling at any cost. (Colombo Gazette)

Contact admin@colombogazette.com to advertise here.

Recommended For You

Qatar Airways sued over death of ‘strict vegetarian’ Sri Lankan passenger

Qatar Airlines has been sued by the family of a vegetarian Sri Lankan doctor who allegedly died after choking on a non-vegetarian meal served on a flight in 2023. Dr Asoka Jayaweera, a resident of South California, passed away two years ago after he boarded a Sri Lanka-bound Qatar Airways flight at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a new lawsuit obtained by The Independent, the cardiologist’s family has accused the airline, holding it responsible for the the doctor’s death in 202

07 Oct, 2025

Rights group says new resolution gives Sri Lankan victims a ray of hope

Human Rights Watch, a leading rights group, said that a new UN resolution on Sri Lanka, adopted by consensus, offers a ray of hope to victims of abuses and their families that they may one day see justice, despite the efforts of successive Sri Lankan governments to block accountability.

07 Oct, 2025

US shutdown to continue after funding measures fail again in Senate

The US Senate failed for a fifth time on Monday to pass spending measures that would reopen the government.

07 Oct, 2025

Colombo Gazette is a leading news and entertainment website, covering stories related to Sri Lanka. The content consists of text based news, photos and videos and is linked to social media websites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to provide a wider coverage for its stories.