Exercise restraint against Indian fishermen, Sri Lanka urged

May 16th, 2011 - 11:46 pm ICT by IANS  

Pranab Mukherjee New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna asked the Sri Lankan government to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with Indian fishermen during talks with his counterpart from the island nation here Monday.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L Peiris, on a three-day visit to India, met Krishna Monday afternoon. He will also call on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and meet National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

According to official sources, Krishna reiterated that the Sri Lankan Navy should exercise restraint when trying to block Indian fishermen crossing into their territorial waters.

India had been raising the issue of fishermen repeatedly with Sri Lanka, especially in the run-up to the recent assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, where it is an emotive issue.

The main purpose of the visit for the Sri Lankan side was however discussion on the report of United Nations panel of experts, which had indicted the government of “war crimes” in its fight against the Tamil Tigers.

Coincidentally, Peiris’ visit comes as a new government has taken over in Tamil Nadu and new Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has urged that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be tried for war crimes.

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