India-Sri Lanka bilateral talks: Permanent solution to fishermen issues at the earliest

The talks followed by the 3rd Meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries held in New Delhi on 13 October 2017.

India and Sri Lanka agreed that a permanent solution to fishermen issues should be found at the earliest, said a joint Press Communique on India-Sri Lanka meet.

The talks followed by the 3rd Meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries held in New Delhi on 13 October 2017.

The Joint Working Group was co-chaired by Secretary (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries), Government of India and Secretary (Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development), Government of Sri Lanka.

Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh met with Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka.

The Indian side was satisfied with progress on the release of apprehended fishermen and detained fishing vessels by Sri Lanka in the recent past.

Also, India reiterated the release of all the remaining Indian fishing vessels in Sri Lankan custody.

For nearly 35 years due to the Sri Lankan civil wars the fishermen of India have been facing a lot of hardship. Fishermen's arrest and seizing of trawlers have become a common scenario between the two countries. At present 47 Indian fishermen and more than 140 boats are in Sri Lankan custody.

(With agency inputs)