India and Sri Lanka Agrees to find permanent solution to the fishermen issues

India and Sri Lanka Agrees to find permanent solution to the fishermen issues

A ministerial level talks between Indian Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India Radha Mohan Singh and Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka Mahinda Amaraweera was held in Colombo on January 2, 2016. Under the agreement reached after a meeting of

JWG, both the countries agreed to release all Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen in each other’s custody.

The meeting between the ministers was at the joint working group (JWG) level, constituted in a decision taken in November 6, 2016 in New Delhi. The first meeting of the India & Sri Lankajoint working group on fisheries was held in December 31, 2016 in New Delhi. During the discussion, the ministers exchanged views on possible mechanisms to help find a permanent solution to the fishermen issues. Both countries agreed to a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to soon release and hand over fishermen in each other’s custody on completion of respective legal and procedural formalities.

vi. Both the countries also agreed to the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to intensify cooperation on patrolling and to institute periodic interaction between the Coast Guard of the two countries.

vii. The two sides discussed the issue of releasing fishing vessels in each other’s custody. The Indian side requested for the immediate release of Indian fishing vessels which was agreed by Colombo.

viii. The Sri Lankan side suggested ending the practice of bottom trawling, as practiced by the Indian fishermen, to which India assured that bottom trawling would be phased out in a time-bound manner.

ix. India also informed Colombo about the measures already instituted including the decision to construct a new fishing harbour at Mookaiyur in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.

x. The next JWG meeting will be held in Colombo in April 2017 to review the progress made in addressing the fishermen issues in a comprehensive manner.

Sri Lanka :

♦ Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo

♦ Currency: Sri Lankan rupee

♦ Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe

♦ President: Maithripala Sirisena