Dinasena Rathugamage
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Starlin has said that he would pay the compensation to Indian fishermen if the Sri Lankan government did not pay a percetage after auctioning the detained 105 vessels belonging to Indian fishermen
Speaking to the Tamil Nadu media, Chief Minister Starling said that although the vessels belonged to Indian fishermen, the Sri Lankan government could not be blamed for the loss of the vessels as they were caught in illegal activities.
He said the new Fisheries Ordinance, which was drafted and amended after discussions between the two countries, did not give Tamil Nadu fishermen the power to oppose the confiscation of vessels belonging to fishermen of any country as it is common practice.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Fisheries of Sri Lanka Douglas Devananda for his decision to pay fair compensation to the Indian fishermen who lost their vessels.
