INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The 6th conference of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries was held today (29) in Colombo.The conference was taken
part by an Indian delegation which was led by Dr
Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Indian Department of Fisheries, Government of India and senior officials from the Ministry of Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Ministry of External Affairs; Government of Tamil Nadu; Navy; Coast Guard; Central Marine Fisheries Research
Institute and High Commission of India in Colombo.The Sri Lankan delegation was led by M.P.N.M
Wickramasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, and senior officials from the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources, Navy, Coast Guard and the Department of the Attorney General.The delegations undertook a detailed review of all
pertinent concerns pertaining to anglers and the fisheries sector, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement.The statement
also pointed out that both sides agreed that the greatest priority should be accorded to attending to the various concerns dealt with by
fishermen in a humanitarian manner as they pertain to livelihood concerns on both sides
They also concurred that only a humane, positive and cooperative method can produce a durable basis for resolving the concerns dealt with by
fishermen on both sides.The Indian side prompted the Government of Sri Lanka for the earliest release of Indian fishermen and their boats
The Indian side also pointed out the increase in the detention of Indian fishermen and their boats in Sri Lankan custody, including the
imposition of long sentences and heavy fines, and worried the need to support recognized understandings and techniques on problems related
to fishermen, the Indian High Commission said.Highlighting the ongoing cooperation in between the Indian Naval and Coast Guard authorities
and their Sri Lankan equivalents, both sides consented to continue enhanced cooperation, including on security and patrolling, maintaining
regular contacts through their hotline, and all other operational matters
The Indian side has actually accentuated the current awful incidents at sea resulting in unfortunate injuries and loss of lives and highly
restated that the use of force must be avoided under all circumstances.Indian side also restated its demand to set up the meeting of
Fishermen Associations in between the two nations at the earliest to even more go over the concerns associated with fishermen
The two sides accepted meet regularly and continue to have detailed conversations on the problems connected to anglers to find a mutually
appropriate and lasting service, according to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
