Following Sri Lanka’s inability to fulfil Tamil Nadu’s demand to release all Tamil fishermen in its custody, the much-expected India-Sri Lanka fishermen dialogue is now postponed to March 18.
After the first round of talks in Chennai on January 27, fishermen from both the sides had agreed for a second round of talks to solve issues of fishing activities in both the areas. The talks were scheduled to take place at Colombo.
"Unless it (Sri Lankan government) releases all our fishermen, there is no point in holding the meet", a senior fisheries department official said.
Meanwhile, a day after a Sri Lankan court ordered release of 116 fishermen from Tamil Nadu ahead of the proposed talks, another court in Mannar on Thursday ordered the release of 24 fishermen and their five boats.
Published 13 March 2014, 19:34 IST