Political Polarization of the Indo-Lanka Fishery dispute and its Comprehensive Security Implications

Abstract

Sri Lanka and India are two neighbouring states in the Indian Ocean, separated by the narrow strip of water that consists of the Palk Bay, and the Gulf of Mannar. The fishery dispute between the two states is a persistent problem of which the Indian fishermen crossing into Sri Lankan waters for illegal fishing and using illegal fishing methods such as bottom trawling is persistent to date. Even though demarcation of territorial waters is not as easy as land demarcation, the territorial waters between India and Sri Lanka was demarcated and designated in 1974 and 1976 by a bilateral agreement between India and Sri Lanka to establish the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Accordingly, transgressing the IMBL into Sri Lankan waters and to fish illegally and use illegal methods of fishing are recognized as violation of these agreements between the two states which is governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). However, India Sri Lanka friendly relations have been governed by geo-strategic relations, international politics, diplomatic relations, and ethnicities. Yet, Political polarization and colouring is a contributory factor to this fishery conflict. For political gains and vested political interests of politicians who are even stake holders to the fishery dispute between India and Sri Lanka at various levels have influenced this dispute, and is evident that it bears negative influence on sourcing a lasting solution to this problem. As a result of this persistent fishery problem and the political influence have created serious comprehensive security implications on traditional and non-traditional to both states. The objective of this study is to analyse and critically evaluate this Indo- Lanka fishery dispute in the back drop of its political polarization and colouring and its implications to security. This study would be guided by the exploratory research methodology and data collection through qualitative interviews of stake holders to the problem and available literature, and Grounded theory to be used for data analysis.