The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka has detained 66 Indian fishing trawlers in 2025 so far this year as the Government continues diplomatic efforts with India to address illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters, Chief Government Whip, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament.
Jayatissa has said the issue remained a serious concern for Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector, with the depletion of marine resources threatening fish stocks, livelihoods and the sustainability of fishing communities.
Responding to questions from opposition MPs, he has said the Government had consistently raised the issue with Indian authorities through diplomatic channels, including discussions with ministers, government officials and diplomatic representatives during bilateral engagements in both countries.
He has said negotiations were continuing, with the Government seeking a lasting solution that would protect Sri Lanka’s marine wealth and safeguard the interests of local fishermen.
The Chief Government Whip has also referred to a recent ruling by the Indian Supreme Court concerning the issue, saying official discussions would continue as part of efforts to address the longstanding dispute.
The issue has remained a recurring source of tension between the two countries, particularly in the northern fishing grounds, where Sri Lankan fishermen have complained about incursions by Indian trawlers and the impact of bottom trawling on marine ecosystems and local livelihoods.
Jayatissa has said both the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were actively involved in addressing the problem.
He has also cautioned against politicising the presence of Indian nationals visiting Sri Lanka, arguing that such visits had taken place under successive governments. However, he has distinguished ordinary visits from illegal fishing activities, which he has said required continued engagement with Indian authorities.
Fish stocks and fishermen’s livelihoods
The parliamentary discussion also highlighted concerns over the long-term decline in marine resources and the need to improve the sustainability of Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry.
Jayatissa has said declining fish stocks had intensified competition for increasingly scarce resources, contributing to tensions within the sector.
He has said the Government was working to strengthen fisheries while providing relief to fishing communities, including assistance considered in response to recent fuel price increases.
The Government’s challenge, he has indicated, was to protect local fishermen from the effects of illegal fishing while ensuring that the domestic industry remained economically viable.
Opposition questions fishing technology project
Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Hector Appuhamy has also questioned the progress of a previously announced mobile application intended to help fishermen identify fish-rich areas at sea.
Appuhamy has said fishermen had placed considerable hopes on the proposed technology, which was expected to help reduce operating costs and improve the efficiency of fishing trips.
He has called on the Government to explain what had happened to the initiative and provide Parliament with an update on its implementation.
Jayatissa did not provide a specific update on the application’s progress in his response, leaving the question of its status unresolved.
The exchange underscored the broader challenges confronting Sri Lanka’s fishing industry, which must contend with pressure on marine resources, rising operating costs and the need for better access to technology.
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