: On a day when Ministers from India and Sri Lanka met in Colombo over the fishermen issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam took strong exception to the reported statements of Sri Lankan Ministers that boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu, currently in the custody of the island nation, would be taken over by the Sri Lankan government.
“Such statements appear to mock the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Government of India to sort out the sensitive issue. I strongly urge the Indian government to register its disapproval in the strongest possible terms at the appropriate level. Such statements just before the inter-ministerial level talks will certainly vitiate the atmosphere,” Mr. Panneerselvam wrote in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A copy of the letter was circulated to the media here.
The Chief Minister referred to media reports on the statements of Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera and its Northern Province Minister for Fisheries and Rural Development Balasubramaniam Deniswaran, and charged that they were “needlessly provocative”.
The Chief Minister also reiterated the State government’s request to the Centre to ensure that the boats were returned in a refurbished condition at the earliest. “I also request you to ensure that immediate action is taken to secure the release of the 51 Indian fishermen who continue to languish in Sri Lankan custody,” he added.
