Against the backdrop of killing of a Tamil fishermen in alleged firing by Sri lankan Navy recently, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said India has strongly conveyed to Sri lanka that the use of force against its fishermen cannot be justified under any circumstances. Making statements in both the lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, she said the issue has been taken up with Sri lanka at the highest level.
“I will again like to reassure the honourable members that the Government accords the highest priority to promote the well-being, safety and security of our fishermen. We have strongly conveyed to Sri lanka that the use of force cannot be justified under any circumstances,” Swaraj said.
She said the Indian Government has consistenly taken up fishermen’s issues with its lankan counterparts and secured the release of its 1,045 fishermen in 2014, 375 in 2015, 333 in 2016 and 51 in 2017. The release of all the 85 fishermen still in the lankan custody has been secured, Swaraj said, adding while 77 returned to India on Tuesday, eight others are on their way back. Swaraj said Government has taken up the matter of their boats’ release as well.
Following the killing of a fisherman on March 6 in Palk Bay after a fishing vessel from Tamil Nadu was fired upon, allegedly by the lankan Navy, the Indian Government expressed its strong concerns to the neighbouring Government.