Strongly taking up the issue of fishermen with Sri Lanka, India today pressed that country to “expeditiously” address the issue of five Indian fishermen in Lankan custody lest it becomes an “irritant” in bilateral ties.
This was conveyed by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to his Sri Lankan counterpart Gamini Peiris during a 30-minute bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional cooperation.
“The issue of Indian fishermen and the difficulties they face when they are apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy and Sri Lankan Coast Guards were raised.
“Khurshid said it was necessary to deal with them humanely and he urged Peiris on the case of five Indian fishermen who still remain in custody there.
“The Minister requested his Sri Lankan counterpart to try and address this issue expeditiously so that this is not an irritant in the relationship,” official sources said.
In this context, the two Ministers agreed that it was necessary for the fishermen associations to meet at an early date to try and reconcile divergent interests from different perspectives.
M/s Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited