The Sri Lankan navy has arrested 86 fishermen from Tamil Nadu of the coast of Mullaitivu in the North-East of the island and seized 10 of their boats, reports the Hindu.
The arrest comes after Sri Lanka postponed talks that were scheduled to take place with India regarding the contentious issue of arrests of fishermen, ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the island.
However the Hindu reported Fisheries Secretary Nimal Hettiarachchi as saying,
“Our new government has prioritised its 100-day programme, so we do not have time to work on this at the moment.”
Ahead of Mr Modi’s visit Jaffna fishermen met the Indian Consul General in Jaffna this week, calling on Mr Modi to address the issue immediately. “We read in the papers that the Indian Prime Minister is coming to Jaffna as well. We appeal to him to look into our plight and take immediate action,” said K Rajachandran, secretary of the Jaffna District Fisheries Association.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam urged to Indian government to take steps to address the issue, saying, “It is unfortunate that this incident has taken place even after the change of regime in Sri Lanka.”
Ahead of Mr Modi’s visit Jaffna fishermen met the Indian Consul General in Jaffna this week, calling on Mr Modi to address the issue immediately. “We read in the papers that the Indian Prime Minister is coming to Jaffna as well. We appeal to him to look into our plight and take immediate action,” said K Rajachandran, secretary of the Jaffna District Fisheries Association.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam urged to Indian government to take steps to address the issue, saying, “It is unfortunate that this incident has taken place even after the change of regime in Sri Lanka.”
Meanwhile, the leader of India’s PMK condemned the arrest, noting that even after the change in government on the island, the situation for Tamil fishermen remains the same.
“When Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, he should find a permanent solution for the Tamil fishermen problem,” he said.