His comments come following the arrest of 19 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy on Saturday off the coast of Vadamaradchi East.

The prisoners are calling for a Presidential pardon and said that they will not suspend their fast unto death till they get an acceptable solution.

Meanwhile, it was good day for the fishermen in Eravur, Batticaloa as they managed to bring back a catch weighing at 200 kilogrammes today.

Addressing the India-ASEAN-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday, Krishnamoorthy said: “There is scope for collaboration in the areas of construction services such as real estate, infrastructure development and town planning in Sri Lanka”.

He said entire fish stocks were being wiped out because of the destructive bottom trawling. The project is funded by India and implemented through a MoU with Sri Lanka.

India’s Marine police arrests two Sri Lankan fishermen Monday, October 12, 2015, 07:06 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

The opposition JVP, or People’s Liberation Front, which moved a resolution condemning the government over its inaction to deal with poaching by Indian fishermen, urged the navy to prosecute boat owners rather than arresting fishermen. News 1st is in possession of footage which show Indian fishermen fishing in Lankan waters.

Further, Jayalalithaa said, ‘the denial of this right and the prolonged incarceration of our fishermen in Sri Lankan jails after being unlawfully apprehended while rightfully engaging in their livelihood activity of fishing in their traditional waters is causing considerable misery and frustration amongst the fisherfolk of Tamilnadu’. Both Indian and Sri Lankan navies should carry out joint patrolling that will prevent Indian fishermen and their trawlers from coming in.