Fishermen’s issue a humanitarian matter: India tells Lanka

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan has discussed with Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda the issue of fishermen, a major irritant in the bilateral relationship, and emphasised that it was a humanitarian matter related to their livelihood. Murugan arrived in the country on a four-day visit on Thursday. ”MOS @Murugan_MOS met Minister for Fisheries Hon. Douglas Devananda. Emphasised that (the) issue of fishermen was a humanitarian matter which pertains to their livelihood,” the Indian High Commission tweeted. Illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters by Indian fishermen has been a recurrent problem despite many high-level talks held between the two sides. The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with the Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan’s territorial waters. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit here last month, also met with Devananda and discussed the issue of Indian fishermen. ”Discussed cooperation on fisheries and stressed working together and humanitarian approach,” Jaishankar tweeted on January 20.