The long-awaited meeting took place on January 14 to put in place an arrangement to prevent incidents of fishermen from Tamil Nadu being harassed allegedly by the island's navy.
The long-awaited meeting of Joint Working Group on Fisheries between India and Sri Lanka took place here today to put in place an arrangement to prevent incidents of fishermen from Tamil Nadu being harassed allegedly by the island's navy.
During the meeting, the Indian side stressed that use of force against fishermen, including by civilians, is not justifiable under any circumstances and said such incidents do not recur as they are not in keeping with the understandings reached at the highest levels between the two sides.
The meeting comes two months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed that the group should accelerate its work and discuss difficulties faced by Indian fishermen.
In today's meeting, the Indian delegation consisted of Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Joint Secretary (Sri Lanka) in the Ministry of External Affairs, officials from various departments and representatives from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Governments, Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.
Sources said the discussions focused primarily on bringing out an interim arrangement to avert incidents of Indian fishermen facing harassment allegedly at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy till a long-term agreement is achieved.
The Joint Working Group meeting assumes significance as it comes two days ahead of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's four-day visit here during which the two sides will review the outcome of the meeting.
A statement from the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said both sides reaffirmed the highest priority accorded by their respective governments to the "well being, safety and security of fishermen."
It also said the two sides agreed that the JWG should meet at least once in six months.
While emphasising that fishermen's associations from both countries have a major role to play, India told the meeting that it would be happy to invite a delegation of fishermen's representatives from Sri Lanka in the first quarter of this year, the sources said.
Noting that there has been concern in India at the incidents of continuing attacks against its fishermen, the Indian side also told Sri Lanka that it need to ensure that such incidents do not recur as they are not in keeping with the understandings reached at the highest levels, they said.
During the meeting, India also appreciated the support extended by Sri Lankan Government in securing "prompt release" of apprehended fishermen and the assistance rendered towards search or rescue and the release of fishermen.
On the recent arrests of four Indian fishermen allegedly for drug-trafficking, India reiterated its commitment to proceeding against drug traffickers in conformity with relevant laws, but said every effort should be made to ensure that bona fide fishermen do not become victims of unfortunate circumstances.
The Indian side also said that its enquiries "reveal no information" against these fishermen, their families, or the boat owners, and urged that they be released, the sources said.
The two sides are also expected to sign a MoU on development and cooperation in the field of fisheries.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}