Sushma ‘bargains’ for fishermen with Lanka

NEW DELHI: In an effort to find a permanent solution to the vexed fishermen issue with Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday held a high-level meeting with various stakeholders and deliberated on its different aspects. The meeting was attended by representatives of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and 13 representatives from the Fishermen Association of Tamil Nadu. It was also attended by officials of Prime Minister's Office, Coast Guard, ministries of Agriculture, Home, Defence, External Affairs and the Indian Navy. The 9th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting on February 5 had agreed on the need to work out a permanent solution to the fishermen issue.

"External Affairs Minister chaired a meeting of internal stakeholders earlier today afternoon to discuss the way forward towards a permanent solution to the fishermen issue between India and Sri Lanka," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.