AMN/ NEW DELHI
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, New Delhi has taken up the fishermen issues at the highest level, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister during his visit to Colombo in May this year.
The matter was also raised with the visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister in April 2017 and subsequently with the Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister in June 2017. She was replying to the supplementaries during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ms Swaraj also said the government regularly takes up the matter of early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen with the Sri Lankan government. As a result of sustained diplomatic efforts, New Delhi has so far secured the release of 251 fishermen and 42 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody this year.
In reply to the main question, Ms Swaraj said, 15 fishermen and 117 boats are in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities in July. She further said that these fishermen were produced at the court on 27th of last month and later remanded to judicial custody till 10th of this month.
She said, pursuant to continued diplomatic efforts, the government could secure the release of seven fishermen on 28th of last month.
The External Affairs Minister said the government will encourage the traditional fishermen and a budget of 1,500 crore rupees has been earmarked and so far 200 crore rupees has been released.