Modi to raise Indo Lanka fishermen issue during his visit to SL

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to raise the Indo- Lanka fishermens issue during his visit to Sri Lanka this week, an Indian official said.   

“We have always focused on with regard to this issue in our discussions with Sri Lanka is the need to avoid the use of force under all circumstances. Therefore, we feel that both sides understand the need to continue our ongoing dialogue, our constructive engagement to eventually achieve long lasting and mutually acceptable solutions to the issue. I have no doubt that the Prime Minister will raise issues related to the welfare of our fishermen during his meeting with the Sri Lankan President,” Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri said.  

He said the following with Regard to Fishermen’s issue in a recent briefing.   

Onthe fishermen issue, this is a long-standing issue. It is also something whose origin lies in certain arrangements that were arrived at many years ago, in the mid-70s when the international maritime boundary line between India and Sri Lanka was agreed by the then authorities, both at the central and the state level. And, there were formal agreements that were signed with regard to respective rights in this particular area.  

 Since then, of course, on grounds of alleged crossing of this line by fishermen from our side, there are arrests on the Sri Lankan side and then a process has to be gone through. We have throughout been in very close contact with Sri Lankan authorities at all levels and in practically every meeting with Sri Lanka, this issue is taken up very, very forcefully by our side. And our central message has always been that these are issues that should really be seen from the humanitarian and the livelihood concerns lens.  There are agreements that have been arrived at from time to time between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities on how to handle this issue. There is a formal mechanism as well of a joint working group on fisheries between the two sides. I think the most recent meeting was held in October last year. There is also a mechanism for fishermen’s associations from the two sides to work.  Our effort is to continue to resolve these issues, find mutual agreement on these issues. Of course, our Mission in Colombo and our Consulate in Jaffna remain very closely involved with these issues. Anytime there are people who are affected, we extend legal as well as other kinds of assistance to them. Sometimes there is medical assistance that is required. We also facilitate the repatriation as early as possible of released fishermen from Sri Lanka to India.