India – Sri Lanka fisheries talks which were halted for close to a year will commence in Chennai, India on Tuesday, March 24. The Ministry of Fisheries said that ten representatives from fisheries assignations in Sri Lanka will be representing the country at the discussion. State Minister of Fisheries Dilip Wedaarachchi said that six officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Fisheries will attend the discussion, as observers. The discussions will be held in India on the March 24 and 25.The discussions are mainly aimed at providing a solution to the fisheries problems faced in the north and issues faced by Indian fishermen. The last discussion between representatives of the two countries was held in May last year. A 15-memeber delegation representing the Sri Lankan fishermen community arrived in Tamil Nadu on Monday, a day after the navy of the island nation apprehended 54 Indian fishermen and ten boats for allegedly poaching in island's waters off the coast of Kankesanturai and Talaimannar. According to reports, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with regards to the matter. Recently, Prime Minister Modi also visited Sri Lanka to strength ties between the two countries. As a goodwill gesture, Sri Lanka had then released 86 Indian fishermen.
