Sri Lanka stresses need to respect IMBL

India and Sri Lanka have agreed to enhance cooperation that would allow both countries to pursue their fishing activity in a safe, secure and sustainable manner, including discouraging fishermen from using destructive fishing methods, during the 4th meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries that concluded in Colombo yesterday.

Both sides reiterated the highest priority accorded by their respective Governments to the well-being, safety and security of fishermen from the two countries, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Both countries agreed that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances, and reiterated in this regard the importance of extending humane treatment to all fishermen. They also discussed measures for the expeditious release of bona-fide fishermen from both countries. The need to respect the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) was stressed by the Sri Lankan side.

Both sides noted the importance of an ongoing engagement between fishermen and fishermen’s associations in India and Sri Lanka. In this context, it was agreed that a delegation of fishermen’s representatives from Sri Lanka would visit India at the earliest in 2012.

Emphasising the need for conservation of marine resources and protection of marine ecology, they agreed to the joint development of fisheries and marine resources in the Palk Bay area and the Gulf of Mannar. The two sides held discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding on Development and Cooperation in the field of Fisheries and agreed to work towards concluding the same at an early date.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Ms. Kshenuka Senewiratne, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Indian delegation by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India. Both sides reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the Joint Working Group which was held on 28-29 March last year in New Delhi, India. The next meeting too will be held in New Delhi.