India withdraws case against Lankan fishermen

Shirley WIJESINGHE
The Indian Government yesterday decided to withdraw the Court case against fishermen detained under the custody of its Coast Guard Force in the Andaman Islands.
This follows a top level discussion held with Indian Government, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Neomal Perera told the Daily News.
The discussion was held by a special Sri Lankan delegation under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Ministry will take all arrangements to bring them back to Sri Lanka after being released by the Indian Coast Guard, the Deputy Minister said.
There were 184 detainees in the custody of the Indian Coast Guard Force including the 51 detainees in Andaman Islands.

News Source: Dailynews

As National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) we are really happy to see the progress of this fishermen's issue in Andaman Island those who were taken in to custody in 08th February 2009 as they crossed the indian sea boarder.

After 8 months we couldn't see any practical involvement of the Sri Lankan Government to get them release and the family members were in a difficult position to mange even their day today lives after becoming them prisiners in India. At that time we had to involve to support fisher people becoming campaingners of the protest they held near the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resourcess last month and we beleive that, we could awake responsible authorities to involve in this matter practiclally.

Legal team to India to secure fishermen's release

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister has decided to send a delegation including legal officers of the Ministry to India next week to discus the issue of Sri Lanka fishermen who are currently in Indian custody, a Ministry Senior Official told the Daily News yesterday.
Nearly 184 Sri Lankan fishermen, 51 in Andaman Islands, 64 in Visakhapatnam and 69 in Chennai are detained in India for illegally entering Indian waters.
Fishermen in the custody are from Negombo, Chilaw , Colombo and Wennappuwa areas.
The issue related to fishermen detained in Chennai is now over without a court case and they will be released shortly. Detainees in Visakhapatnam had been fined by the Court and discussion is being conducted to reduce the fine rate.
The issue of 51 detainees in the Andaman Island is yet to be resolved, Official explained the present situation.
He added that Sri Lanka Government has already commenced the discussions with the Indian High Commission to release the detainees under the custody of Indian Coastal Guard force. The above decision was taken after having series discussions held with the Indian Government through the Indian High Commission.
News Source: Daily News

13th National Youth Committee Meeting took place in Ampara district....

13th National Committee Meeting took place in Puthuwill, Ampara District from 22 to 23rd last October with the participation of 50 youths representing 12 district partner organizations. This time they had discussed very serious issues happing around us and the main global issues including climate change, disaster mitigation, poverty, drought that people are facing in some region in the country and specially there had been a dialogue how to involve in these issues as youth of Sri Lanka.

“ We paid our attention on these issues to discuss in depth, because our target is to build a National Youth Movement for a Better Social and Environmental Change .“ added coordinator of this programme.


As district wise programme which were conducted are
Environmental conservation programs, coastal conservation activities, Environmental study field visits, cultural programs and training WS conducted on Global warming and climate change.

Discussed future activities in the NCM
Building and maintaining bowers (shady leafy places near lagoons), coastal conservation activities, conducting disaster mitigation trainings for selected youth groups, and monitoring of conducted activities in the filed.

National level activities
Deep trainings in the end of the year, distributing the printed book on disaster management, printing a book with the collected information out of filed visit and the arrangements of the celebration of World Fisheries Day on 21st November 2009 at Hambantota district were the main discussed issues in the period of Youth National Committee meeting event.