Taking the dialogue process forward, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced that the second round of talks between the representatives of fishermen communities in the State and Sri Lanka will be held on May 12 and 13 in Colombo.

The announcement follows the release of 98 fishermen of Tamil Nadu and their 23 boats by Lankan authorities. The island nation’s government took steps to release the fishermen and their vessels due to the firm stand taken by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on the issue.

In his letter to the External Affairs Ministry on Monday, Fisheries Secretary S Vijaykumar said the next round of talks could be held on May 12 and 13 in Colombo as was indicated by the Lankan government to the Centre.

He said the Tamil Nadu delegation would be accompanied by top officials, including the Director and Additional Director of Fisheries and himself. 

The Fisheries Secretary also said the list of fishermen representatives from Tamil Nadu would be the same as those who had participated in the talks held on January 27, which included a delegate from Puducherry. The agenda for the proposed talks had already been communicated to the Centre.

The first round of talks between the fishermen representatives of Lanka and Tamil Nadu was held on January 27 in Chennai and it was decided to continue the dialogue process to resolve the issues amicably.

The first round of talks between the Indian fishermen and their Sri Lankan counterparts had completed with both the sides accepting to honour their end of the deal. However, the discussions were put off after a series of fishermen arrests by SL navy. (The New Indian Express)