Karunanidhi writes PM on Lanka's reported move

(June 17, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said India should verify reports about Sri Lanka's proposed intention to set up a military base in Katchatheevu, saying the unilateral action was a great cause of concern for fishermen and the state government.

Katchatheevu is an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he cited Tamil newspaper reports about Sri Lankan Navy's intention to set up a watch tower and a military base and said 'it should be verified by the Government of India with its agencies.'

Incidents of harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy continues unabated despite repeated requests by the state government and assurance given by the Sri Lankan authorities to India, Karunanidhi, whose DMK is a key partner of the UPA Government at the Centre, said.

Tamil Nadu fishermen have often come under attack allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy in and around Katchatheevu. This issue has been seized by AIADMK and some other political parties to demand the retrieval of the island.

Karunanidhi said after the annual ban imposed by the state government on mechanised fishing boats and trawlers ended on May 29 last, fishermen put out to the sea off Rameswaram hoping to conduct fishing in a peaceful manner with the political situation in Sri Lanka changing.

'To their shock, the Sri Lankan Navy continued its tirade against the poor fishermen by damaging their boats, seizing the fish catches and harassing and intimidating them in mid sea,' he said in the letter, a copy of which was released to the media here last night.

-Sri Lanka Guardian