India will strongly take up with Sri Lanka the fishermen issue during
delegation-level talks between the two countries, officials said
yesterday.
"India and Sri Lanka have been approaching this as a humanitarian matter which is an emotional issue. This is not an issue that can be addressed immediately with quick-fix solutions but we will work on it as friends and maritime neighbours," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
“We hope to resolve this in a peaceful and friendly manner," he said ahead of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj's talks here with the Lankan leadership.
Swaraj is here on a two-day trip to set the stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country, the first bilateral tour by an Indian PM in over 25 years.
Swaraj on Friday had called on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who assured her that his government is committed to strengthening ties with India.
Ahead of Modi's visit, PM Ranil Wickramasinghe has stoked a controversy suggesting that Indian fishermen may be shot if they intruded into Sri Lankan waters.
Alleging that Indian fishermen were taking away the livelihood of Northern Lanka fishermen, he told Tamil Thanthi TV that, "If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed...Law allows me to do that."
The remarks by Sri Lankan prime minister on the fishermen issue will
also be raised by external affairs minister Swaraj during her meeting
with her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera, ministry of external
affairs sources said.
As many as 86 Indian fishermen were arrested and their 10 fishing boats seized by the Sri Lanka navy for allegedly poaching in the country's waters last month.
"India and Sri Lanka have been approaching this as a humanitarian matter which is an emotional issue. This is not an issue that can be addressed immediately with quick-fix solutions but we will work on it as friends and maritime neighbours," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
“We hope to resolve this in a peaceful and friendly manner," he said ahead of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj's talks here with the Lankan leadership.
Swaraj is here on a two-day trip to set the stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country, the first bilateral tour by an Indian PM in over 25 years.
Swaraj on Friday had called on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who assured her that his government is committed to strengthening ties with India.
Ahead of Modi's visit, PM Ranil Wickramasinghe has stoked a controversy suggesting that Indian fishermen may be shot if they intruded into Sri Lankan waters.
Alleging that Indian fishermen were taking away the livelihood of Northern Lanka fishermen, he told Tamil Thanthi TV that, "If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed...Law allows me to do that."
As many as 86 Indian fishermen were arrested and their 10 fishing boats seized by the Sri Lanka navy for allegedly poaching in the country's waters last month.
