Centre mulls talks on fishermen issue with Lanka

Centre has informed DMK that it was mulling talking to Sri Lanka on mutual release of fishermen lodged in prisons in the respective countries, party MP T R Baalu today said.
Quoting his meeting with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid yesterday in New Delhi, a release from Baalu's office said he had taken up with him the need for Centre's intrevention for release of 275 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu lodged in in Sri Lankan jails, and their boats.
Baalu described the difficulties being faced by families of the arrested fishermen, their sole bread-winners, and pressed for immediate steps for their release.

In response, Khurshid told Baalu that on the directions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he was already in touch with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister (G L Peiris) and discussing the matter with him, the release said.
Further, the Minister said 213 Sri Lankan fishermen were lodged in prisons in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with 32 of their boats being seized.
"He said he intended to talk to Sri Lankan government about the mutual release of fishermen in either country after holding discussions with the Chief Ministers of these states," the release said.
Baalu had stressed for the release of the fishermen before Pongal festival falling on January 14.