Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday raised the issue of the killing of an Indian fisherman with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on the sidelines of the Summit of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Jakarta.
“Yes, it was discussed,” the Vice President said when asked whether the killing of the fisherman, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, figured in his meeting with Mr. Sirisena.
Mr. Ansari, during his interaction with the accompanying journalsts while returning from Jakarta after a two-day visit, said, “The President said he had heard about it this morning and that he had spoken to the Chief of the Sri Lankan Navy who had said that no such incident from the side of the Sri Lankan forces took place.”
He said Mr. Sirisena told him that he had ordered a “full investigation” into the matter.
Sources told PTI that the Vice President candidly conveyed to Mr. Sirisena that something must be done by Sri Lanka about the recurring problem related to fishermen as part of confidence building measures.
The 22-year-old fisherman was allegedly shot dead while he was fishing in a mechanised boat at a short distance off Katchatheevu islet. Fishermen in Tamil Nadu alleged that he was killed by the Sri Lankan navy while another was injured.
As many as 76 Indian fishermen are in captivity of Sri Lanka.
