Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered the release of 37 Indian fishermen detained in the island nation and promised to help the fishermen of the two countries to resolve the conflict over fishing in the Palk Bay, according to fishermen leader P Sesu Raja.
Mr. Raja said he and his colleagues Emirat and Devadoss, who were on a private visit to Colombo, met Mr. Sirisena at the Presidential palace in Colombo on Tuesday.
Talking to The Hindu over phone from Colombo, Mr. Raja said the meeting arranged by D M Swaminathan, Sri Lankan Minister for Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs, went on for about 30 minutes .
Mr. Sirisena expressed the view that the ‘strained relations’ between the fishermen of the two countries should not be allowed to spoil the relationship between the two countries, Mr. Raja said.
Pointing out that Indian fishermen could not use the trawlers in the Palk Bay, Mr. Sirisena held the view that extensive use of trawlers destroyed the marine resources in the region, but promised to find a solution, protecting their interests.
The Sri Lankan President also ordered the release of 37 Nagapattinam fishermen, arrested by their Navy on charges of poaching and detained for more than a month. Meanwhile, U. Arulanandham, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen , took exception to the three fishermen leaders calling on Mr. Sirisena.
