20 Indian fishermen to be released soon: Sri Lankan Minister

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his ministry has recommended to the Attorney General’s department to release the 20 fishermen from India. “Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned,” Amaraweera was quoted as saying by Colombo Page. 

“So this is essentially a sign of goodwill. Very quickly the fishermen will be released,” he said. Amaraweera said that the Indian government has submitted a request for the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Once the recommendations reach the Attorney General, he will inform the court that there is no objection, the Minister said. According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Sri Lanka is currently holding 51 fishermen and 114 fishing boats in its custody. 

On January 2, a Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Sri Lanka will hold a ministerial-level meeting here, to find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen, an irritant in bilateral ties. 

The talks will centre around disputed and contentious issues including the Rameswaram fishermen being banned from fishing near Katchatheevu, the island over which Tamil Nadu now lays claim and where Sri Lanka has traditionally allowed Indian fishermen to rest and dry their nets on the island. It may be recalled that the Sri Lankan authorities permitted nearly 80 fishermen from the state to attend the consecration of the St Anthony’s church in the islet recently.