Expressing concern over the killing of Indian fishermen in territorial waters of his country, the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris today urged that there is a need for some attempt to be made to reduce the number of Indian fisherman crossing into his country's waters.
Peiris said that his country has taken a slew of measures to avoid such incidents.
"There is a need for some attempt to be made in reducing the number of Indian fisherman coming to Sri Lankan Waters. We are discussing this with India, the government is responsive," said Peiris.
"The fisherman in that part of the country were unable to use the resources of the ocean for a long time, now they can, so we need to use these resources to build the foundation of a economic life for themselves after long years of deprivation," he added.
India had earlier conveyed to Sri Lanka that 'continued violence' against Indian fishermen straying into its waters was a matter of 'serious concern'.
This was conveyed to the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, who called on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and held delegation-level talks with his counterpart SM Krishna during his three-day visit ending today.
The joint statement issued after his meetings with the Indian leadership said India and Sri Lanka have agreed that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances and that all fishermen should be treated in a humane manner.
Peiris, while addressing mediapersons here today, said: " Sri Lankan Navy has taken a series of measures to deal with the killing of fisherman. There is now a rigid control on ammunition that was issued, navy has to account to every cartridge issued to them"
"There is no exercise no training programmes, there is also restriction on fisherman from where to put into the sea," he added.
Two incidents of killing of fisherman this year have stoked tensions between India and Sri Lanka.
Earlier on January 12, an Indian fisherman was killed in Palk Straits, when Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire at three fishermen, who put out to sea from Jagadapattinnam near Pudukottai.
In another incident, a fisherman was killed and two others were injured while fishing off Kodiakarai coast. The man, who had put out to sea with two others from Pushpavanam coastal hamlet, died after Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly tied a rope around his neck and pushed him into the water.
India and Sri Lanka had established a joint working group on fishing to address various issues relating to fishing by the two sides in the narrow Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar.
ANI
Peiris said that his country has taken a slew of measures to avoid such incidents.
"There is a need for some attempt to be made in reducing the number of Indian fisherman coming to Sri Lankan Waters. We are discussing this with India, the government is responsive," said Peiris.
"The fisherman in that part of the country were unable to use the resources of the ocean for a long time, now they can, so we need to use these resources to build the foundation of a economic life for themselves after long years of deprivation," he added.
India had earlier conveyed to Sri Lanka that 'continued violence' against Indian fishermen straying into its waters was a matter of 'serious concern'.
This was conveyed to the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, who called on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and held delegation-level talks with his counterpart SM Krishna during his three-day visit ending today.
The joint statement issued after his meetings with the Indian leadership said India and Sri Lanka have agreed that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances and that all fishermen should be treated in a humane manner.
Peiris, while addressing mediapersons here today, said: " Sri Lankan Navy has taken a series of measures to deal with the killing of fisherman. There is now a rigid control on ammunition that was issued, navy has to account to every cartridge issued to them"
"There is no exercise no training programmes, there is also restriction on fisherman from where to put into the sea," he added.
Two incidents of killing of fisherman this year have stoked tensions between India and Sri Lanka.
Earlier on January 12, an Indian fisherman was killed in Palk Straits, when Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire at three fishermen, who put out to sea from Jagadapattinnam near Pudukottai.
In another incident, a fisherman was killed and two others were injured while fishing off Kodiakarai coast. The man, who had put out to sea with two others from Pushpavanam coastal hamlet, died after Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly tied a rope around his neck and pushed him into the water.
India and Sri Lanka had established a joint working group on fishing to address various issues relating to fishing by the two sides in the narrow Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar.
ANI
