Sri Lanka, India discuss bilateral issues on Palk Bay fishing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 February 2006, 04:11 GMT]
The second meeting of the Sri Lanka-India Joint Working Group on fisheries held Tuesday in Colombo explored ways to improve bilateral co-operation in the fisheries sector and to implement mechanisms to resolve fishing disputes that may arise between fishermen of both countries, diplomatic sources said. The discussions took place in a friendly atmosphere in keeping with the close ties of friendship and co-operation between the two countries, said a press release of the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry issued Thursday.

Mr.Mohan Kumar, Joint Secretary of the External Affairs Ministry led the Indian delegation and Ms.Geetha de Silva, Additional Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Minister led the Sri Lankan delegation.

"The discussions centered on possible ways and means of strengthening the measures being undertaken by the two countries to prevent inadvertent straying; securing the release of fishermen and boats in custody in Sri Lanka and India; mechanisms for dealing with incidents involving fishermen in the Palk Bay region as well as bilateral co-operation in the fisheries sector," said the press release.

The press released added: "During the discussions, the Indian side informed that action is being taken to secure the release of 24 Sri Lankan fishermen held in custody in India. Currently, there are no Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. The two sides agreed that the fisheries resources of the two countries provided enormous potential for co-operation and discussed the possibilities of investment in the areas of deep-sea fishing, fisheries harbor development, laboratory testing, enhancing product value, training and resources survey."