India and Sri Lanka have expressed confidence for finding a long-lasting solution to the issue of fishermen between the two countries. The ministerial meeting held in Colombo today reached an understanding to ensure that there was no physical harm or loss of life while arresting fishermen for poaching into each other's waters. The talks co-chaired by Union Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh and Sri Lankan fisheries minister Mahinda Amaraweera, was participated by senior officials from both countries. <br/><br/>A joint communiqu' issued after the meeting said that bottom trawling, practiced mainly by fishermen from Tamilnadu, will be phased out in a graded time-bound manner. Sri Lankan side agreed to consider the request from Indian side to immediately release the fishing vessels in each other's custody. Both sides also decided to operationalize a hotline between the two coast guards and to set up a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to release the fishermen in each other's custody. The next meeting of Joint working group has been scheduled for 6th of April.<br/><br/>The fishermen issue has been lingering between the two countries for long. While fishermen from Southern states have been demanding release of their fellow fishermen and trawlers, their counterpart in Sri Lanka assert that bottom trawling used by Indian fishermen has caused extensive damage to the marine eco system. A meeting of foreign ministers of both countries decided last year to resolve the issue through a structured mechanism of meetings between both sides.

India and Sri Lanka today exchanged views on possible mechanisms to find a permanent solution to the fishermen issues. Both sides agreed to a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to expedite the release and handing over of fishermen in each other's custody on completion of respective legal and procedural formalities. Release of 51 fishermen in Sri Lankan custody and three fishermen in Indian custody was announced. Sri Lanka also agreed to consider India's request for release of fishing boats. <br/><br/>Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh held talks with Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera in Colombo today. The talks followed the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on fisheries held in New Delhi on 31st of last month. The JWG, was co-chaired by Fisheries Secretaries of the two countries. A joint press communique issued after the meeting said, as part of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) agreed to by both sides, the two countries decided to intensify cooperation on patrolling and to institute periodic interaction between the Coast Guard of the two countries.<br/> <br/>An understanding was reached to ensure that there is no physical harm or loss of life while apprehending fishermen by Navy and Coast Guard of the two countries. It was agreed to explore the possibility of introducing effective tracking systems for the fishing vessels and making the use of onboard communication equipment mandatory. The Sri Lankan side reiterated that the practice of bottom trawling needs to end at the earliest. The Indian side assured that bottom trawling would be phased out in a time-bound manner. The next JWG meeting will be held in Colombo in April 2017.