India and Sri Lanka will hold the next meeting of the joint working group on fishing soon to discuss, among other things, the proposed memorandum of understanding on development and cooperation in the field of fisheries. The joint working group has not met since 2006.
A joint statement issued towards the end of foreign secretary Nirupama Rao’s two-day visit to Colombo said the two countries will promote contacts between their fishermen’s associations. The decisions were taken following the deaths of two Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
The deaths became an emotive issue in Tamil Nadu, which goes to polls later this year. Accordingly, New Delhi dispatched Ms Rao to personally convey India’s concerns to the Sri Lankan leadership. She called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and external affairs minister G.L. Peiris before returning home on Monday.
Both sides agreed that the use of force cannot be justified under any circumstances and that their respective officials need to hold discussions for strengthening the safety and security of the fishermen as per the October 26, 2008 joint statement on fishing, which has put in place practical arrangements to deal with bona fide fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Ms Rao urged the Sri Lankan authorities to investigate the recent incidents and take steps to prevent their recurrence in future. For its part, Colombo has sought additional information from New Delhi so that the actual facts could be ascertained and the inquiry concluded at the earliest.