Lankan envoy terms release of Indian fisherman a goodwill gesture

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam, on Tuesday termed the release of Indian fishermen as a mark of goodwill gesture on the part of the Lankan Government.

"Fisherman of both countries often cross international maritime boundary line and fishing in other waters is a humanitarian issue. Sri Lanka has been consistently releasing Tamil Nadu fisherman who cross into Palk Bay region as a goodwill gesture," Kariyawasam said.

The envoy stressed on reciprocity from the Indian side as well and called for release of 85 Sri Lankan fishermen lodged in various Indian jails.

"At the same time there are about 85 Sri Lankan fisherman in custody in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and in Odisha. We hope that they will also be released similarly. This is an issue which both countries are trying to find a solution but we would like Tamil Nadu fisherman not to cross international martime boundary line and poach into Sri Lankan waters,: Kariyawasam added.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday ordered the release of 78 Indian fishermen held by the navy for allegedly poaching into Lankan waters as a goodwill gesture to mark the joint session of the Indian Parliament.

The decision came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a "permanent solution" to the thorny issue.