The State government has categorically told the Centre that the second round of talks between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishermen could take place in Colombo on Thursday (March 13), only after the release of 177 Tamil Nadu fishermen and their 44 boats currently in Sri Lankan custody.
In a letter to Suchitra Durai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, S. Vijayakumar, secretary, Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department, said that in his previous letter on March 2, he had categorically asserted that the Colombo talks were subject to the release of the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats in Sri Lankan custody.
However, till date the State government has not received any information regarding the fishermen release, he said.
