Fishermen of India, Sri Lanka to hold talks in Delhi

A delegation-level meeting of fishermen associations of India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to be held in the national capital today.

An 11-member delegation of Sri Lankan fishermen yesterday reached the national capital to have talks with its Indian counterpart from Tamil Nadu on resolving of fishing issues.

The meeting, fourth in the series, has been called to work out a sustainable solution for trouble-free fishing in the Palk Bay, separating the two countries.

It comes few days before foreign ministers of the two countries are to chair meeting of all stakeholder in New Delhi on Saturday to sort out the issue. The fishing issue was mentioned by Sri Lankan Prime Minister during his meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi last month and both sides had agreed for a high-level meeting.

It is reported that Tamil Nadu fisheries Minister Jayakumar will be attending the talks, along with fishermen representatives from Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram.

Fishermen from Tamil Nadu are urging the government to secure the release of 115 fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka and fellow fishermen languishing in Lankan jail.

The local fishermen want a lasting solution to the problem of Sri Lankan Navy apprehending them whenever they are fishing near international maritime boundary line. They want to secure the rights to fish in traditional fishing zones near Kachatheevu and Palk straits. The fishermen talks will give stress to avoid bottom trawling with Irattamadai nets which will destroy fish resources.