The talks between fishermen of India and Sri Lanka, scheduled to be held here on Tuesday, have been cancelled, according to the Fisheries Ministry here.
“We were fully prepared and had made all arrangements, but we did not hear from the Indian side and so it had to be cancelled’’, a senior official at the Ministry said.
This is the second time that the second round of discussions has been postponed.
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It was first scheduled for March 13, but could not be held since Tamil Nadu and New Delhi could not send the Indian fishermen on time.
Fishermen of both countries met in Chennai on January 27 and the Colombo talks were to follow.
Meanwhile, a total of 74 Indian fishermen were caught by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had maintained that the Indian fishermen would participate in the talks only after the release of the 74 fishermen, who have been remanded here.