FISHING CRISIS:SL-TN TALKS FAIL TO BRING RESULTS

The discussion between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen which began last evening in Colombo ended with both sides failing to reach consensus, Fisheries Ministry Media Secretary Narendra Rajapakse said.

He said, between an Indian group comprising 18 fishermen and eight officials and 20 officials and 10 fishermen from Sri Lanka.

The Indian fishermen continued to demand ac- cess to Sri Lankan waters for fishing and wanted to continue bottom trawling for a few more weeks. Sri Lankan fishermen associations from the North however refused to agree to the demands saying it would affect their livelihood. However the Ministry said both parties were hoping to hold discussions with top Tamil Nadu officials and the Sri Lankan government soon, Mr. Rajapakse said.

On April 14 the Tamil Nadu Government gave its nod for Sri Lanka's proposal for holding a second round of fishermen level talks in Colombo on May 12 and 13 on the contentious issue of fishing rights in Palk Strait.

Fishermen, who participated in the earlier talks, held on January 27 in Chennai, including a delegate from Puducherry, participated besides top state government offi- cials in the Colombo meeting yesterday.

The second round of talks between fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka was earlier scheduled for March 13 in Colombo but was later postponed to March 25. However, that was also cancelled and the talks were eventually held yesterday.