Sushma Swaraj and Sri Lankan counterpart to hold meeting today in New Delhi

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will hold a high-level meeting with her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samarweera in New Delhi today to sort out the fishermen issue. The meeting comes days after the fishermen associations of both the countries failed to reach a common ground to resolve the issue.

Fishermen based in Sri Lankan north have been claiming that their livelihood is affected due to the bottom trawling practised by Indian fishermen and their poaching into Sri Lankan territory. Fishermen from



Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are opposed to Sri Lankan Navy arresting them and seizing their boats. Though the fishermen are released on humanitarian grounds, their vessels are not returned by the Sri Lankan government.

Nine Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody were released this week ahead of today's meeting.The issue was raised by the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka during their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month and both sides had agreed for a high-level meeting.