Indo-Lanka fishermen talks without prejudice to case in SC: Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The proposed talks between fishermen of India and Sri Lanka to be held on Monday will be without prejudice to a case pending in Supreme Court on the Katchatheevu issue, Tamil Nadu government said today

"The Centre has been urged that the proposed talks between fishermen of India and Sri Lanka should be held in a way that would not be prejudicial to the case filed by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on the Katchatheevu issue in the Supreme Court," an official release said.

The Union government has also been apprised that the resolutions to be adopted in the talks would be implemented only after the state government's approval, it said.

The talks are being held to find a solution to the dispute over fishing in the Palk Straits which has seen Tamil Nadu fishermen coming under alleged attacks and detentions by Lankan Navy frequently.

The five point agenda for the talks would include stressing the traditional fishing rights of Tamil fishermen in the Palk Straits, ending the assault on Indian fishermen and confiscation of their boats, it said.

Apart from state Fisheries Minister K A Jeyapaul and top State and Coast Guard officials, 12 fishermen representatives from Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Pudukottai districts, besides Puducherry region, would participate in the talks.

Joint Secretary in External Affairs Ministry Suchitra Durai, Indian High Commission official in Colombo Shiv Darshan Singh are among the officials who will represent the Centre.

Director General of Fisheries Department in Sri Lanka, Nimal Hettiarachchi, Consultant to Fisheries Department S Subasinghe will be among officials representing the island nation, besides 10 fishermen representatives.