New Delhi:
India on Wednesday named on Sri Lanka to make sure the early release of fishermen arrested lately on the charge of poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
According to a statement by Ministry of Fisheries, the Indian side also reiterated the require for releasing all fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody in line with the commitment offered by Sri Lankan President throughout his state take a look at to India in November 2019.
This concern came at the fourth meeting of the joint working group on fisheries via virtual mode, throughout which the complete gamut of troubles associated to fishermen and fishing boats was discussed.
Referring to the current ”apprehension” of 40 fishermen and 6 boats by Sri Lanka Navy, the leader of the Indian delegation named on the Sri Lankan side to make sure their early release and till such time, to provide essential facilitation which includes consular access and essential help, the release mentioned.
The Fisheries Ministry mentioned that two sides also exchanged views on the status of cooperation amongst Navy and Coast Guard of each nations in patrolling, current hotline amongst the Coast Guards and associated operational matters, cooperation in preservation of marine atmosphere as properly as the schedule for the fifth meeting of the JWG. The Indian side conveyed its sincere determination to work in a constructive spirit with the Sri Lankan side for convening an early meeting of the Fisheries Ministers on each sides.
Earlier this year, throughout the virtual bilateral Summit amongst Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa held on 26 September, each leaders agreed to “continue engagement to address the issues related to fishermen through regular consultation and bilateral channels.”
The Indian side highlighted the initiatives becoming taken by India below the new Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and other schemes of Government of India and governments of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to diversify and decrease fishing stress in the Palk Bay.
The very first meeting of the Joint Working Group was held on December 31, 2016, in New Delhi. The Second Joint Working Group was held in Colombo on April 7, 2017. Meanwhile, the third meeting was held in New Delhi on October 13, 2017.