Modi, Sirisena discuss ways to solve fishermen issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday discussed ways to bring a permanent solution to frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by the island nation’s navy.

Sirisena, who is on his second visit to India, called on Modi late in the evening. They discussed all issues of bilateral interest, in particular the problems being faced by Indian fishermen, the status of various economic projects being implemented by India and efforts to further increase trade and investment, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Modi and Sirisena appreciated the meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission led by foreign ministers of the two nations. The joint commission met after the gap of three years.

Modi also stressed on the need to develop a mechanism and find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen straying into each other waters, said Swarup. He appreciated Sirisena’s efforts to promote reconciliation in Sri Lanka.