COLOMBO, March 31 -- Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda on Tuesday (March 30) revealed a government proposal to issue licences to Tamil Nadu fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters in order to regulate fishing and preserve the aquatic resources in the narrow channel.

The minister said he would be holding talks with the Tamil Nadu government about a limited number of Indian vessels engaging in fishing in Sri Lankan waters on a weekly basis subject to a large levy. Nelson Edirisinghe, Media Secretary Ministry of Fisheries said the period assigned to each vessel would be one week and that bottom trawlers would not be allowed.

Though cabinet spokesman, Minister Udaya Gammanpila later denied any such decision has been made, it is...