New Delhi, Dec. 17 (UNI) According high priority to apprehension of 36 Indian fishermen and five of their vessels two days ago by Sri Lankan Navy, Indian on Thursday said that its High Commission in Colombo is working to ensure consular access to them and facilitate their early release.
``We have seen reports about apprehension of 36 Indian fishermen and five of their fishing vessels on December 14 and 15 by Sri Lankan Navy. Similar information has also been received from the Government of Tamil Nadu,' Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in his virtual briefing.
``We are in close touch with the Government of Sri Lanka through our High Commission in Colombo and the Consulate in Jaffna to verify the information and to ensure consular access and facilitate the early release of the fishermen and their boats,' he said.
The fishermen issue and the matter of fishing boats have been on the agenda of bilateral discussion between India and Sri Lanka for many years. The two Governments have been seized of this essentially humanitarian matter at high levels. There exists a common understanding to handle the matter in a humanitarian manner, the spokesperson said.
There are well established bilateral mechanisms between India and Sri Lanka for discussions and cooperation on the issue of fishermen. Since these could not be convened due to ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions, it has now been mutually agreed to hold a meeting of the bilateral Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries through the virtual format on December 30, he informed.
``The JWG, which is led on our side by Secretary, Department of Fisheries, is expected to address all the issues relating to the subject of fisheries between India and Sri Lanka including release of apprehended fishermen and fishing boats, modalities of communication between relevant authorities on the two sides, cooperation in dealing with issues related to livelihood of the fishing communities on both sides and such other matters as are mutually agreed upon,' the MEA spokesperson said.
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