The annual celebration of St. Anthony’s feast on the Sri Lankan islet of Kachchatheevu saw a significant absence of Indian fisherfolk protesting against the arrest of their peers for poaching activities. Despite the boycott, a handful of Indian High Commission officials attended the event, while thousands of local devotees participated in the festive mass, including Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake.
The lack of Indian attendees resulted in decreased trading activities typically seen during the event. Recent court rulings imposing jail terms on Indian fishermen for illegal trawling further fueled tensions, prompting threats of boycotts from Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram fishing communities.
Reports indicate that some Indian pilgrims were unaware of the boycott decision, leading to disappointment upon arrival in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, discussions between Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and Indian High Commission officials regarding the arrests are ongoing, with further talks scheduled for tomorrow.
