Beyond Borders: Rethinking the India–Sri Lanka Fishermen Conflict and Charting a Peaceful Path Forward

Abstract

The India–Sri Lanka fishermen conflict in the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar is one of the most enduring and unresolved maritime disputes in South Asia. What began as a local livelihood disagreement between fishing communities has grown, over five decades, into a multi-layered problem that sits at the intersection of sovereignty, human rights, environmental law, and regional geopolitics. This paper examines the structural roots of the conflict, traces its historical trajectory, and analyses how issues such as resource depletion, the widespread use of bottom trawling, legal ambiguities under international maritime law, and China's growing strategic presence in the Indian Ocean have collectively intensified the dispute. Drawing entirely on secondary sources — including books, peer-reviewed journal articles, policy papers, and credible online publications — this study is organised around four core objectives: examining the historical origins of the dispute; analysing the environmental and technological dimensions; evaluating the legal and humanitarian consequences; and assessing the strategic and geopolitical implications for bilateral and regional relations. The paper concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations that seek to shift the conversation from reactive border enforcement toward proactive bilateral cooperation, with sustainability, diplomacy, and human dignity as shared goals.