Context:
•On June 25, 2024, a clash occurred between Indian fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy near Kankesanthurai. The Sri Lankan Navy intercepted Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters, capturing 10 fishermen and seizing their trawler.
Key Reasons for the Confrontation:
•Lack of Dialogue: Joint Working Group between India and Sri Lanka, which addresses maritime issues, has not met for two years, leading to lack of resolution.
•Failure of Deep-Sea Fishing Project: A joint deep-sea fishing initiative by the Union and Tamil Nadu governments has not been successful. Only 61 vessels were distributed over seven years, leaving many fishermen with no choice but to cross into Sri Lankan waters.
•The dispute, rooted in illegal fishing and boundary violations, highlights the unresolved fisheries issue despite past bilateral agreements (1974, 1976) that defined maritime boundaries.
