Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that Indian fishermen who venture into Sri Lankan waters will get shot by the Sri Lankan navy, in an interview with a Chennai-based TV channel.
“This is our waters,” said Mr Wickremesinghe. “If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed… law allows me to do that."
Justifying the frequent reports of attacks by the Sri Lankan security forces on Indian fishermen, the Sri Lankan prime minister added "they (the Sri Lankan Navy) have to shoot because they were poaching on Sri Lankan waters."
"On the fishermen issue, As far as I'm concerned, I have very very strong lines. This is our waters," continued Mr Wickremesinghe.
“Why are you coming into our waters? Why are you fishing in our waters? Stay on the Indian side…There will be no issue…No one will shoot anyone else,” he said. “You stay on the Indian side, Let our fishermen stay on the Sri Lankan side… Otherwise don’t make accusations of human rights violation by the Navy. You came in there.”
“Why do you all pick up the Italian sailors...?” added Mr Wickremesinghe, in an apparent reference to the murder of two Indian fishermen by Italian marines. “You say you are friendly with Italy, show that same magnanimity to Italy that you want us to show. “
The Sri Lankan prime minister’s comments come just days before Indian Prime Narendra Modi’s visit to the island, where the contentious fishermen issue is expected to be discussed.
Responding to Mr Wickremesinghe’s comments, India’s external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, “We hope to work with Sri Lanka in a peaceful & diplomatic manner on the fishermen issue, which is an emotive issue.”
See our earlier post:
Sri Lankan navy arrests 86 Indian fishermen (27 Feb 2015)