A fishermen delegation has requested the Collector to get them an appointment with the Chief Secretary to discuss a visit to Sri Lanka in the first week of August. The delegation plans to hold talks with Sri Lankan fishermen to find a solution to the fishing problem in the Palk Bay.
Leaders of the five-member delegation which met Sri Lankan Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in Delhi on June 5, met Collector K. Nanthakumar here at the Collectorate and briefed him about the deliberations they had with the Lankan Minister.
As Mr. Rajapaksa had suggested that they could visit the Island Nation in the first week of August, the leaders requested the Collector to take up with issue with the Chief Secretary, according to P. Sesu Raja, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association.
Mr. Raja, who was on the team which met Mr. Rajapaksa in Delhi and met the Collector here, told The Hindu that the Collector suggested that the fishermen give a statement detailing the talks they had with the Lankan Minister and he would forward it to the Chief Secretary.
To meet CM
Mr. Raja said that after meeting the Chief Secretary, the fishermen leaders would like to meet Chief Minister Jayalalithaa before undertaking the visit.
Their mission would succeed only if the team of fishermen is deputed by the government along with officials.
On return from Delhi, the delegation addressed fishermen in Rameswaram on Tuesday.
