Sri Lanka Releases 14 Indian Fishermen, Day After Modi-Dissanayake Bilateral Talks

Sri Lanka has released 14 Indian fishermen, a day after the issue was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s bilateral talks held in Colombo. PM Modi said he sought immediate release of the Tamil fishermen and return of their boats during the meeting with Sri Lankan President. 

“The Indian side emphasised the immediate release of the fishermen and the return of their boats. We agreed that we should move forward in this matter with a humane approach,” PM Modi said on Saturday during the joint statement. We also emphasised on immediate release of the fishermen and their boats,” he said.

Repeated arrests of Tamil fishermen and confiscation of their boats by Sri Lankan authorities have been a long-standing issue between both countries. 

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Fishermen Issue Discussed In ‘Considerable Detail’

On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a media briefing that the fishermen issue was discussed in “considerable detail” between the two sides.

“As the prime minister said himself during his remarks, there was an emphasis on the need to adopt a humanitarian and constructive approach to cooperation on these issues because these are ultimately issues that impact the livelihood of fishermen on both sides of the Palk Bay,” he said.

“The prime minister emphasised that at the end of the day, it is a daily issue for the fishermen and that certain actions that have been taken in recent times could be reconsidered,” Misri said.

He further said that both sides also stressed the need to intensify the institutional discussions on the issue.

“Both sides are in touch with each other on the possibility of convening the next round of fishermen’s association talks between Sri Lanka and India,” he said.