NAGAPATTINAM/KARAIKAL:With barely two days to go before Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his first official visit to Sri Lanka, Nagapattinam and Karaikal are pinning hopes on the visit for a permanent solution to the fishermen dispute that has plagued them for long.
About 10 fishermen representatives from Karaikal fishing hamlets on Wednesday met Union ministers in New Delhi and reiterated their demands to retrieve confiscated trawlers from the island nation and repatriate the 61 fishermen languishing in Lankan prisons.
The representatives, hailing from four fishing hamlets, flew to Delhi for highlighting their demands to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday after arrangements made by Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Shipping.
“Though it is uncertain whether the fishermen dispute would be brought up during the Prime Minister’s visit, we are hopeful that some sort of solution could be arrived at only if he urges the Lankan leaders to bring about an amicable solution,” said Dravidamani, representative of Tirupattinam fishing hamlet.
With 25 Nagapattinam fishermen recently apprehended by the Lankan navy along with 10 trawlers near Trincomalee on February 27, the fishermen have also sought prompt retrieval of the trawlers from Sri Lankaconfiscated in the past six months.
“As part of the Prime Minister’s visit, we expect that our boats would be returned soon,” said Akkaraipettai fishermen representative Veeramuthu.