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Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 07.30 GMT |
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FM requests
India for the early release of Sri Lankan
fishermen |
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Foreign
Minister
Rohitha
Bogollagama
requested
the
Indian
Government
for the
assistance
in the
early
release
of 51
Sri
Lankan
fishermen
who are
under
the
custody
of the
Andaman
and
Nicobar
island
authorities
along
with
nine
fishing
vessels,
during a
meeting
held
with the
Indian
High
Commissioner
to Sri
Lanka,
Alok
Prasad
at the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
on
September
14.
According
to a
media
release
issued
by the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs,
Minister
Bogollagama
requested
the
Indian
Government
to adopt
a
facilitating
approach
in
matters
of this
nature
where
Sri
Lankan
fishermen
get into
difficulties.
The
Foreign
Minister
pointed
out that
the
system
adapted
by the
State
Government
of Tamil
Nadu in
dealing
with
arrested
Sri
Lankan
fishermen
is
convenient
and
requested
to
explore
possibilities
of
adopting
a
similar
approach
towards
Sri
Lankan
fishermen
arrested
elsewhere
in
India,
especially
in the
Union
Territory
of
Andaman
and
Nicobar
Islands.
The
Foreign
Minister,
during
the
meeting,
also
expressed
his
appreciation
for the
services
rendered
by the
Indian
medical
team
which
worked
in the
conflict
areas in
the
north of
Sri
Lanka
during
the last
phase of
the
humanitarian
operations
and
recalled
the
various
humanitarian
assistance
extended
by India
to Sri
Lanka in
the
recent
past,
said the
media
release.
Senior
Officials
from the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
and the
Indian
High
Commission
were
associated
with
this
meeting.
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