India-Sri Lanka fishermen talks cancelled again

Sri Lanka,

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The talks between fishermen representatives of India and Sri Lanka, scheduled to be held in Colombo on Tuesday (25), have been cancelled once again, according to the Fisheries Ministry.


“We were fully prepared and had made all arrangements, but we did not hear from the Indian side and so it had to be cancelled’’, a senior official at the Ministry said.

This is the second time that the second round of discussions has been postponed.

It was first scheduled for March 13, but could not be held since Tamil Nadu and New Delhi could not send the Indian fishermen on time.

Fishermen of both countries met in Chennai on January 27 and the Colombo talks were to follow.

Meanwhile, a total of 74 Indian fishermen were caught by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had maintained that the Indian fishermen would participate in the talks only after the release of the 74 fishermen, who have been remanded in Sri Lanka.