Joint working group on fisheries :

Road Map needed for development

Sri Lanka and India Joint working group on fisheries Tuesday concluded that a Road Map is needed to ensure resource sustainability, livelihood, safety and security of the fishermen of both countries. In a joint statement the two parties said that they discussed the measures to expedite the release of bonafide fishermen detained by the two countries.

The two parties arrived at a number of decisions at its 3rd meeting held in New Delhi March 28 and 29.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Additional Secretary Ranjith Uyangoda, and the Indian delegation was led by Indian Foreign Ministry Joint Secetary T S Tirumurti. Ranjith Uyangoda also met Indian Foreign Secretary Smt Nirupama Rao.

Both sides welcomed the convening of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries, the last meeting of which was held in January 2006 in Colombo.

The two sides reviewed development since 2006. They reiterated priority given by their Government to issues of fishermen and their livelihood.

They stressed the need for all fishermen to be treated in a humane manner. To ensure the safety and security of fishermen, both sides agreed that the use of force cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The need to respect the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) when fishing was stressed by the Sri Lankan side.