Indo-Lanka fishermen association to meet after PM Modi's visit: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had extensive conversations with the Sri Lankan leadership and added it has been agreed that the fishermen association of both nations would meet after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to take the matter forward.

"The External Affairs Minister had extensive conversations with her Sri Lankan counterpart and the Sri Lankan Prime Minister. She is here to pave way for our Prime Minister's visit to the country. The External Affairs Minister also raised the issue of Indian fishermen and how it is a humanitarian issue. As a first step, it has been agreed upon that. After Prime Minister Modi's visit, the fishermen association of both nations would meet to take the matter forward," said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

"At this time, the focus is to find an interim solution while we work to find long-term solutions. Both the ministry and the Prime Minister are satisfied that this (fishermen) issue is to be addressed in a humanitarian manner and through dialogue," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the country on March 13-14.

Prime Minister Modi's visit will be the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister since Rajiv Gandhi made his visit in 1987 to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord.