Hope Colombo will fulfil aspirations of Tamil community, have 'humane approach' on fishermen issue: PM Modi to Sri Lankan President Dissanayake

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday subtly nudged Sri Lankan President AnurMoia Dissanayake to meet the aspirations of the Tamils in the Indian Ocean nation.

Modi also stressed that New Delhi and Colombo should proceed with a humane approach on the issue of fishermen flouting the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka.

“We discussed issues related to fishermen's livelihood. We agreed that we should proceed with a humane approach in this matter. We also emphasised on immediate release of the fishermen and their boats,” the prime minister said after meeting the Sri Lankan president in Colombo.

Two fishermen from India were seriously injured in an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy near Delft Island in the Palk Strait in January. New Delhi lodged a strong protest with Colombo, demanding strict observance of the existing understanding between the two governments and underlining that the use of force was not acceptable.

The issue of India’s fishermen being harassed and arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy had also come up for discussion when Modi had hosted Dissanayake in January. They had agreed on the need to continue to address the issue in a humanitarian manner. They had also underscored the need to take measures to avoid any aggressive behaviour or violence, according to the joint statement issued after the meeting between the two leaders.

The Sri Lankan Navy had detained 240 Indian fishermen in 2023 for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary in pursuit of marine resources. It detained 535 fishermen from India in 2024 (till December 5, 2024), Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha on December 12. The number of boats of Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy also went up from 35 in 2023 to 71 in 2024 (till December 5, 2024).

“We also talked about reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. President Dissanayaka apprised me of his inclusive approach. We hope that the Sri Lankan Government will meet the aspirations of the Tamil people and fulfil its commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and conducting Provincial Council Elections,” Modi told journalists.

Modi also had a meeting with a delegation of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

He, however, avoided specifically asking Colombo to implement the Sri Lankan constitution’s 13th amendment, which had its roots in the agreement that New Delhi had in July 1987 signed with Colombo to protect the interests of the minority Tamils of the Indian Ocean nation.

Dissanayake’s party, Janatha Vimukhti Peramuna, known for its leftist nationalist ideology, opposed the agreement between Sri Lanka and India and had burnt its copies in the past.