51 Sri Lankan fishermen have been held in Andaman Island for more than seven months.

Protest

Calling for immediate action by the government to secure the release of fishermen, their families and fishing associations staged a protest in Colombo.

“We plead the government to do something to bring them back, my son is among the detainees, and they do not have enough to eat in prison”, Mary Agnes Latha of Thuduwawa said.

President of the Irnanawila St. Pedro Fisheries Society, Bernard Fernando pointed out that there should be an identification process for fishermen who use nets in the Indian Ocean.

“When they use nets, sometimes they have to tow them afar. Accidently they sail into Indian waters. If they have a pass they can prove their identity to Indian authorities", he said

To avoid fishermen being arrested, the government should immediately issue identification pass to local fisherman, Bernard Fernadno added.