Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne has said that the decision on release of Indian fishermen from custody will be taken on the basis of the outcome of the delegation level talks between the two countries in New Delhi.

Speaking to All India Radio, Mr Senaratne said that he will lead a high powered delegation to New Delhi later this week to discuss the fishermen’s issue with an Indian team headed by Agriculture Minister Sharard Pawar.

Mr Senaratne made it clear that his stand at the two-day long meeting that starts on Wednesday would be to insist on recognizing the sanctity of the International Maritime Boundary Line by the fishermen from both the countries.

On the question of a proposed meeting of the representatives of the fishermen associations of the two countries, the Minister said that the modalities and dates of that meeting will be worked when he is in New Delhi for the talks. He added that he would also be meeting Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

Currently, 292 Indian fishermen are in Sri Lanka’s custody and 212 Sri Lankan fishermen are in Indian custody.