india-srilanka

To Develop Kankesanthurai port India and Sri Lanka sign MoU
Kankesanthurai (KKS) harbor: In Sri Lanka in the Jaffna peninsula
KKS soon to be developed with the aid of India
India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the Kankesanthurai (KKS)
port
The Kankesanthurai Harbor was earlier destroyed during the 30 year war with the LTTE

India has recently announced to set up two manufacturing

hubs in which among the following countries----Sri

Lanka

SC: Refused to restrain Center from providing training to Sri Lankan armed Forces

PM writes to Sri Lankan President on UNHRC resolution
PM Dr. M. Singh today wrote a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and asserted that
India has always favoured a political solution that will address all outstanding issues, in particular the
grievances of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, in a spirit of understanding and mutual
accommodation. Talking on the resolution in the UN Human Rights Council, Dr. Singh said that India’s language in the
resolution against Sri Lanka was balanced. Expressing happiness Srilanka’s intention to continue the process of
implementing the recommendations of the LLRC, Dr. Singh reiterated India’s commitment to continue to be of
assistance in the achievement of this important objective.






India handover Sri Lanka the IInd Phase of Galle to Hikkaduwa
Railway Line
 India today hands over to Sri Lanka the second phase of the coastal railway line from Galle to Hikkaduwa.
 The railway line has been constructed with the help of India.
 External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is in Sri Lanka, announces that India will go with a substantial increase
in educational assistance, being given to Sri Lanka.
 The funding amounting to 2.5 billion Srilankan Rupees will mark a three fold increase in the scholarships and selffinancing
slots for undergraduate, masters and doctorate-level courses under the “India-Sri Lanka Knowledge
Initiative” launched by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
 India also announces launching of two new scholarship programmes in Sri Lanka called the “Maulana Azad and
Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme.










India & Sri Lanka sign 5 MOUs
 India’s external affairs minister SM Krishna is on a visit to Sri Lanka.
 During this visit, the two countries have signed 5 MOUs in the field of housing, railways, agriculture, water supply
and telecom.
 The MoU on housing specifies the modalities for the next phase of the Housing Project being implemented with
India’s assistance of approximately 260 million US Dollars.
 The MoU on Railway extends the line of credit 382.37 million USD for the restoration of Northern Railway
Services in Sri Lanka.
 The MoU on water supply was signed between EXIM Bank of India and Government of Sri Lanka for financing
Water Supply Project.
 MoU on Agriculture is to promote development of cooperation in the fields of agricultural science and
technology.
 MoU on telecom provides for establishing a mechanism of technical and institutional cooperation in the field of
telecommunications.
 During the visit, Sri Lankan President assured External Affairs Minister SM Krishna that the 13th Amendment plus
approach will be followed towards devolution of power to the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
 Its worth note that provisions for setting up of a Provincial Council for each Province; establishment of a High
Court for each Province; and making Tamil an official language and English the link language was to be achieved
via the 13th amendment of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.











India Sri Lanka Fishermen Issue & measures to resolve
The issue of fishermen straying in each other’s territorial waters has come as a potential irritant in the otherwise
generally good bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. Indeed, wherever sovereign coasts are in proximity (as in the case of India-Pakistan, India-Bangladesh and India-Sri Lanka), straying of fishermen is normal. Fishes know no
frontiers; fishermen choose to ignore them, principally for livelihood reasons. However, in the India-Sri Lanka case, the
issue is more complex and, therefore, calls for holistic approach.
• Indian Government sources claims that they had tried to bring together fishermen's associations from both
countries at Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. But there is still no meeting ground between the two sides.
• The troubling island called unresolved exchange dispute of Katchaitivu, which was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974
when India and Sri Lanka demarcated their international maritime boundary line (IMBL) has became the bone of
discontent. Sri Lankans say they gave an island called Wedgebank to India in exchange. However, Indian fishermen
continue to be caught fishing off Kachaitivu on the explanation that it's a "traditional" fishing ground. But this is
running afoul of not only Sri Lankan fishermen but its navy.
• Territorial Maritime waters of each country in some areas strays into the other are if 12 nautical mile criteria
is strictly applied. Maritime border between the two countries is about 400 kilometres spreading along three
different areas: the Bay of Bengal in the north, the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar in the centre and the Indian
Ocean in the south. In the Palk Bay region, distances between the coasts of the two countries varies between 16 and
45 kms.
• During the ethnic war Tamil militants and the Sri Lankan government, the Sri Lankan Navy focussed on ‘Sea Tigers’
and the movement of LTTE boats around the island. It overlooked straying of Indian fishermen, who were
entrepreneurial enough to take the risk to smuggle goods that could be use to the LTTE.
• The end of ethnic war resulted in relaxation of fishing restrictions along Sri Lankan coasts resulting in its fishermen
to venture into the seas around without any fear. The Indian fishermen, who thus far enjoyed monopoly of resourcerich
waters, have now got competitors in massive numbers. At times, this leads to confrontations between the
two fishing communities and in turn drawing intervention of either of naval forces.
• The main complaint of Sri Lankan fishermen has been against Indian mechanised trawlers that indulge in pair,
mid-water, pelagic, and bottom trawling severely damaging marine resources and the sea bed. Ironically,
most of the trawlers from Tamil Nadu are owned by merchant capitalists from non-fishing and other social
backgrounds. The entry of ‘outsiders’ has not only threatened the local customary laws of fishing communities, but
also turned several traditional fishermen from owners to labourers. Trawler sector in Tamil Nadu is also politically
influential and financially sound making it more obdurate to solutions that could cut down its profit margins.
Measures to solve the issue:
􀀀 Arranging frequent meetings between fishing communities of both countries could be explored so as to develop a
friendlier atmosphere at mid-seas during fishing. the right to life of fishermen should be respected; then comes the
livelihood issue. To avoid shooting incidents due to “mistaken identity”, ‘coordinated patrolling’ between marine forces
(Sri Lankan Navy and Indian Coast Guards) of both countries can be considered.
􀀀 As an additional safety measure, the Indian Navy's proposal of fitting Global Positioning System (GPS) in every
Indian fishing boat should be implemented. To avoid shooting incidents due to “mistaken identity”, ‘coordinated
patrolling’ between marine forces (Sri Lankan Navy and Indian Coast Guards) of both countries can be considered.
􀀀 Developing fish farming extensively in Indian waters would prevent its fishermen from venturing into other waters in
search of a ‘big catch’. India can also consider leasing fishing blocks, especially those identified as ‘surplus total
available catch’, from Sri Lanka. Through this, Sri Lanka could also earn much required foreign exchange.
􀀀 Adequate fish population can be maintained in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar areas, so that most of the fishermen
would not find the need to venture into other’s ‘territories’. India also can consider taking on Katchchativu Island that
has been the centre of controversy, on long-term lease.
Solution from below’ has greater chances of success than a ‘solution imposed from above’ by the governments. There
have indeed been meetings between fishing communities since 2003, but erratic and not so fruitful in terms of tangible
results. If they are systematised and institutionalised, one can expect them to be more successful. It is important thatwhatever agreements reached by the fishing communities amongst themselves receive strong backing from the
governments and their marine forces. Otherwise, all these agreements would be futile.