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Sri Lanka, India set to discuss fishermen issue

Xinhua, March 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Sri Lankan government on Saturday said Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen have agreed to hold talks in India next week to discuss the prevailing Indo-Sri Lanka fishing issue.

The Fisheries Ministry said the talks have been set for March 24 and 25 in the south Indian city of Chennai.

A ten-member delegation representing the Sri Lankan fishermen's associations and nine Sri Lankan officials will attend the talks, the ministry said.

The Tamil Nadu government earlier this week said the talks between the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka will be held in Chennai on March 24.

Originally, the state wanted to have the talks on March 5, but Sri Lanka said it wanted to hold talks for March 11.

Fishermen from India and Sri Lanka have crossed borders on several occasions in the past, resulting in them facing arrest and their boats being confiscated.

Talks held between Indian and Sri Lankan Fishermen Associations in the past in an attempt to defuse tensions have so far failed to produce results.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to the island nation said the longstanding fishermen issue between the two nations was a complex one involving livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides.

"We should handle it from this perspective. At the same time, we need to find a long term solution to this issue. It is also important that fishermen's associations of India and Sri Lanka meet at the earliest to find a mutually acceptable arrangement. It can then be taken forward by both governments," he said. Endi