The Ministry of External Affairs of India said there was “greater receptivity” from the Sri Lankan side to Indian proposals made during fishermen’s meeting in Chennai on Tuesday, but Colombo would only respond at next meeting in May.

“Our understanding of both the atmospherics and receptivity during this meeting was much better when compared to previous meetings,” said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

The fishermen from India and Sri Lanka met in Chennai for the third time on Tuesday. He noted that “everybody understood that there was no solution around the corner”.

“The focus of the suggestion made by the Indian side is to try and see in the interim, whether it would be possible to work out a via media to have environmentally sustainable fishing which will be a win-win for both sides,” said Akbaruddin. The Indian fishermen had made some suggestions, to which “Sri Lankan side had shown greater receptivity”.

He added that Sri Lanka would get back with their response at the next meeting in May. Meanwhile as many as 54 fishermen from Tamil Nadu released by Sri Lanka reached the Indian Naval camp at Mandapam on Wednesday.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)