India, Sri Lanka discuss fishermen issue in first JWG meeting

The first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries between India and Sri Lanka took place here today ahead of the second round of ministerial level talks to be held on Monday.
The day-long meeting was co-chaired by secretaries for animal husbandry and fisheries department of the respective countries. Members of External Affairs Ministry, Coast Guard, Indian Navy and officials of Tamil Nadu government were also present at the JWG meeting.
"The issues related to release of detained fishing vessels, modalities for handing over of apprehended fishermen, mutual cooperation in fishery sector among others were discussed in detail," according to official sources.

The outcome of the JWG meeting will be further discussed at the ministerial talks to be held on January 2 in Colombo.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh will be attending the meeting. It is not yet clear if External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would attend the meeting as she is recuperating from an operation.
During the first round of ministerial talks held in New Delhi in November 2016, India and Sri Lanka decided to set up a JWG on Fisheries to meet every three months and hold a meeting between the Ministers for Fisheries every six months to find a permanent solution to the emotive issue of fishermen.

There have been several alleged incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel firing at Indian fishermen fishing in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats.
The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both the countries.