AMN
India and Sri Lanka have agreed to set up a hot line between the coast guards of the two countries as part of the mechanism to help find a permanent solution to the fishermen issue.
The agreement came at the ministerial level talks, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera in New Delhi to
day.
An official release said, views were exchanged on various mechanisms to resolve the issue.
The Ministers agreed on setting up of a Joint Working Group on Fisheries to meet every three months and a meeting between the Ministers for Fisheries every six months.
The 1st Ministerial Meeting would be held on 2nd of January next year in Colombo. They also agreed to the request by the Fishermen Associations that there should be no violence and loss of life in the handling of fishermen by the Navies and Coast Guards of the two countries.
The Ministers noted that the process is underway for the release of fishermen presently in custody on either side.