Thimpu, Feb 7 (IANS) Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday expressed ‘deep concern’ over the alleged killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy to his Sri Lankan counterpart G.L Peiris here.
Krishna met Peiris for half-an-hour on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).
‘The external affairs minister conveyed India’s deep concern over the death of two Indian fishermen,’ external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here after the meeting. He added that both ministers agreed that force should not be used.
Last month, there had been widespread outrage in India over reports of two Indian fishermen being killed by Sri Lankan Navy within India’s territorial waters.
With assembly elections in Tamil Nadu due in May, the issue had become a political hot potato, causing India to rush Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to Sri Lanka Jan 31 to urgently address the matter.
Stating that an investigation was underway into the incident, Peiris told reporters here that both countries are looking for ‘multi-pronged approach’, which will ensure that there will be an enduring, pragmatic solution.
Earlier in the day, there were reports of three fishermen being injured after their boats were stopped and searched by Sri Lankan navy personnel.
