In a significant move reflecting renewed vigour in bilateral ties, India and Sri Lankan on Sunday agreed to "re-engage" on repatriation of refugees from India as both countries held "substantive" talks on a raft of crucial matters including political reconciliation process and the sticky fishermen issue.
In a significant move reflecting renewed vigour in bilateral ties, India and Sri Lankan on Sunday agreed to "re-engage" on repatriation of refugees from India as both countries held "substantive" talks on a raft of crucial matters including political reconciliation process and the sticky fishermen issue.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera, during their over three-hour-long talks, reviewed the entire expanse of bilateral ties and explored ways to further strengthen cooperation in various areas. They also decided to work on repatriation of Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka who hadfled during the civil war that started in 1990s. According to official figures, more than 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees are in Tamil Nadu, out of which some 68,000 are housed in over 100 government-run camps.
Newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who dethroned Mahinda Rajapaksa from his 10-year rule after a bitter Presidential poll, has already indicated that he wants to have a closer relation with New Delhi. Samaraweera has chosen India for his first foreign trip after assuming charge. On the fishermen issue, the Sri Lanka Minister conveyed that they were working on a modus operandi for boats of Indian firshermen. Approximately 87 boats of Indian fishermen are in custody of Sri Lankan authorities. Samaraweera assured of a quick solution on the issue.
Both the leaders agreed that it was time for fishermen associations from both the countries to engage and find a solution to the issue. "Today's talks have been marked by warmth, mutual respect and understanding between India and Sri Lanka and the substantive outcomes demonstrate the desire of both countries to give a boost to the ties," Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin told reporters. He said date and venue for a meeting of all stakeholders on the fishermen issue is being finalised.
"The talks included areas of cooperation on political and economic spehere, the political reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and efforts of the new government in this regard," said the Spokesperson. Both the leaders also discussed Sirisena's proposed visit to India. It will be his first overseas visit after becoming President. Asked whether Sri Lanka's ties with China figured in the talks, the MEA spokesperson only said both leaders discussed all aspects of bilateral ties.
"What we heard from the Sri Lankan Minister is that Sri Lanka sees this as an opportunity to enhance their ties with India in a manner that benefits it economically because they feel that India under Prime Minister Modi is a power house of economic development and for Sri Lanka it is a win-win situation," he said. On whether India raised the issue of Chinese submarines docking at Lankan port, the Spokesperson responded by saying that it was for the island nation to decide about their bilateral relationship with other countries but added that all issues of importance were discussed.
He described Sri Lanka as a neighbour which has shown a great understanding towards India. The MEA Spokesperson said Samaraweera indicated that his choice of New Delhi as his first overseas destination as Sri Lankan Foreign Minister reflects the priority that the new government in Sri Lanka places on its relations with India.
Samaraweera apprised Swaraj about the political reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and referred to the 100-day programme of his government that features plans for the Tamil population in the Northern region. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment on devolution of powers in "letter and spirit" and to fulfil the aspirations of the ethnic Tamils. "We feel that these talks, apart from being cordial, warm and friendly, were also substantive in nature and have yielded several outcomes," Akbaruddin said.
On the issue of repatriation of refugees from India, he said talks between officials on the matter will begin this month. Samaraweera invited Swaraj to visit Sri Lanka at an early date and she accepted it. "We will work out for an early visit by her to Sri Lanka," the Spokesperson said adding both sides will also hold the next meeting of the India-Lanka joint commission. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in January 2013.
On the fishermen issue, both India and Sri Lanka felt that a long-term solution needs to be worked out taking into consideration all aspects of the matter. "But as an interim approach we feel that the issue needs to be dealt with in a humane manner taking into account the livelihoods on both sides," the Spokesperson said. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister also carried an invitation for an early visit to his country Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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