March 28, Colombo (LNW): India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has informed the Rajya Sabha that 97 Indian fishermen are currently detained in Sri Lanka, with 83 already serving sentences, three awaiting trial, and 11 newly apprehended on Thursday (27).
Addressing the Upper House during question hour, Jaishankar stated that India is actively engaging with Sri Lanka to encourage a humanitarian approach towards the detained fishermen.
At the same time, the Indian government is working on long-term solutions, including the installation of transponders on fishing vessels, to prevent further incidents of trespassing into Sri Lankan waters.
Jaishankar pointed to historical agreements from 1974 and 1976 as the root cause of the ongoing disputes between the two nations over maritime boundaries and fishing rights.
He noted that the fishermen currently serving sentences include many repeat offenders and boat owners, complicating diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
The minister emphasised that the Indian government has inherited a complex and longstanding issue but remains committed to resolving it through diplomatic channels and policy measures aimed at preventing such conflicts in the future.
