The Ministry of Fisheries has sought the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have discussions with the Indian Government regarding the Indo-Lanka fisheries issue.

Recently, Sri Lankan fishermen have criticised the lack of Government intervention to stop the entry of Indian fishermen into the country’s territorial waters and led numerous protests demanding solutions to the issue. Meanwhile, it was reported that the two Governments have initiated discussions to find a permanent solution for the crisis following a meeting held between the Presidential Secretariat and the Indian High Commission to Sri Lanka.

Against this backdrop, the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries Kumuduni Nayana Kumari Somaratne told The Daily Morning yesterday (4) that the Ministry has informed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to arrange a discussion between the two Governments in order to discuss the matter but that it is yet to receive a response from the Foreign Ministry. She also said that no special discussions have been held between the Fisheries Ministry officials and the Indian Government recently, even though many Governments, including the incumbent one, have taken many steps to resolve the Indo-Lanka fisheries conflict throughout history. She also stressed that extensive discussions are needed to reach a proper solution for the matter immediately and added that all the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the law enforcement authorities, must address the particular issue.

When she was queried as to whether the Fisheries Ministry is aware of the recently initiated discussions (as claimed by the media) between the Presidential Secretariat and the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, Somaratne stated that she is not aware of such an initiative.