A fishermen's body today urged the Centre to hold a high-level consultative meeting with various stakeholders before the fourth round of bilateral talks between the representatives of India and Sri Lanka over the fishing dispute.
The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) told External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that the Sri Lankan government had recently constituted a committee consisting of fishermen representatives from North and North East provinces, its External Affairs Ministry, Defence Ministry, Navy anad Coastal Protection Force.
This was a "wonderful idea" since some of the fishermen representatives in the said provinces, who were remaining as "stumbling blocks" for a peaceful solution, will participate in the process and "open up," NFF Chairperson M Ilango said.
In his letter to Swaraj, a copy of which was marked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ilango said that a similar plea had been already made with her and urged her to form a committee ahead of the next round of talks.
"Besides fishermen representatives, kindly ensure the representation of the Indian ministries of External Affairs, Agriculture (Fisheries), Defence, Navy and Coast Guard and representatives of the fisheries department of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," he said, adding such a move will help in arriving at a permanent solution as consultations could be held on "practical and viable" aspects prior to the talks.
Three rounds of bilateral talks had been held between fishermen representatives from the two countries, with the members last meeting here in March this year, where key issues regarding fishing were discussed.
