Sri Lanka has assured India of conducting “a very thorough investigation” into an incident which led to the death of an Indian fisherman and injured several others. The statement from the Ministry of External Affairs came a day after both sides agreed to release fishermen in each other’s custody following the killing which led to tension and protest in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu.
“After the unfortunate incident in which one fisherman lost his life, we took up the matter at the highest level in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government has assured us that a very thorough investigation will take place into the matter,” said Gopal Baglay, Spokesperson of the MEA, during the weekly briefing.
This was the first formal statement from the MEA after a 21-year-old fisherman was allegedly killed by the Sri Lankan Navy near Rameswaram on Monday. Several other fishermen were left injured in the incident. Locals said that the boat was in the high seas at the time of the incident. The deceased fisherman was identified as K. Bristo from Thangachimadam.
However, Sri Lanka had denied that the fisherman was killed by its Navy.
Sri Lanka had assured of all possible help regarding the incident, even as both sides reached the agreement on Thursday to release fishermen in each other’s custody.
