Sri Lanka Prez Orders Release Of 37 Indian Fishermen

13 May,Colombo

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena met a delegation of Indian fishermen yesterday and said that solution to the fisheries problem has to be found through dialogue.
A non-official delegation of six representatives of various fishermen associations of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, led by S P Antony Muttu and N Devadas of India Sri Lanka Fishermen’s Forum, raised the issue of arrests of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters before the Sri Lankan President.

According to Muttu, President Sirisena said that the 37 Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s custody would be released soon. The delegation asked President Sirisena to permit Indian fishermen fish in Sri Lankan waters for a limited number of days in a year. To this, the Sri Lankan President pointed out that the main problem was the use of illegal bottom trawlers by the Indian fishermen.

A private delegation of 6 representatives of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry fishermen met Sri Lankan President Maithripal Sirisena Tuesday in a bid to convince him of the need to allow Indian fishermen access to fishery resources in Sri Lankan waters. The half an hour long meeting ended on a positive note, with President Sirisena assuring them of an early release of the 37 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.

The President also said that the good relations between India and Sri Lanka will not be allowed to suffer because of this problem. He however pointed out that the use of illegal bottom trawlers by the Indian fishermen can not be allowed.”