Colombo, October 30 (Daily Mirror)- Sri Lanka and India held talks to prevent illegal fishing activities by Indian fishing vessels in Sri Lankan waters in the Northern and Eastern areas of Sri Lanka, the Government Information Department said.

The matter was discussed during the sixth Officer Level Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries between India and Sri Lanka held in Colombo.

The main objective of the Working Group is to prevent illegal fishing activities by Indian fishing vessels in Sri Lankan waters in the Northern and Eastern areas of Sri Lanka. The Working Group, which met for the last time in March 2022, met again after a lapse of nearly two and half years.

The representatives of the two countries discussed the strengthening of joint patrolling of law enforcement authorities of both countries to prevent the entry of Indian vessels into Sri Lankan waters, the expeditious release of fishermen arrested by both countries after completion of legal proceedings, strengthening of hotline maintained by coast guards of both countries, the status of investigations into deaths of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters and conducting of joint research related to the fisheries sector by the research institutes of both countries.

The Sri Lankan delegation emphasised the severe damage caused to marine resources by Indian fishing vessels using mechanical bottom-trawling in Sri Lankan waters. They also urged for swift action on the request for safe passage through Indian waters for Sri Lankan multi-day vessels travelling to and from the Arabian Sea.

Both sides agreed to hold regular meetings of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries and monitor the progress of the agreed-upon matters, the Department said.