Indo- SL Fishermen Talks Hit A Snag : Indian Fishermen Fail To Turn Up For Talks

Fishermen level talks between Sri Lanka and India have hit a snag with Indian representatives failing to turn up for scheduled discussions on March 25. 

"We were fully prepared and had made all arrangements, but we did not hear from the Indian side and so it had to be cancelled’’, a senior official of the Sri Lankan Fisheries Ministry had told  India's 'The Hindu' newspaper. 

It was first scheduled for March 13, but could not be held since Tamil Nadu and New Delhi could not send the Indian fishermen on time. A few days ahead of the discussion, 74 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for poaching. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram categorically stated that talks would not be held if Sri Lanka failed to release all Indian fishermen who were in jail.