New Delhi: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Friday
voiced concern over the recent killing of two Indian fishermen
allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy when its envoy met her here.
High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam met Swaraj, the
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, at her residence and
promised to convey the views to the highest authorities in Sri
Lanka.
"I met the High commissioner at my residence. I raised
the issue of killing of our fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy,"
Swaraj posted on microblogging site Twitter.
She said that she had voiced concern over the matter and
that Kariyawasam had told her that the "Government of Sri
Lanka does not approve of the killing of our (Indian)
fishermen".
He "promised to convey my concerns to the highest
authorities in Sri Lanka," she wrote in a posting.
The BJP leader said she would "continue to follow up
this issue".
The killing of two Indian fishermen within a span of one
month allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy last month sparked huge
protests in Tamil Nadu.
A fisherman was killed and two others were injured
while fishing off Kodiakarai coast on January 22, in the
second such incident in a fortnight.
Although, Sri Lanka has declined its Navy`s involvement
in the killings, the issue angered India with the government
saying the use of force against the innocent fishermen was
"unacceptable" and must be stopped.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who met his Lankan
counterpart G L Peiris in Bhutan on Monday, conveyed India`s
"deep concerns" over the issue.
During the 30-minute meeting, Peiris and Krishna agreed
on the early convening of the Joint Working Group to discuss
the issue of fishermen.
Peiris maintained that his government`s initial
investigation had shown that its Navy was not involved in the
death of the Indian fishermen and wanted more evidence, if
any, to prove otherwise so that the matter could be looked
into in that context.
India has already furnished some evidence and expressed
readiness to give more depending on availability, which is
expected from Tamil Nadu.
On January 31, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao also visited
Sri Lanka to discuss the matter.
PTI
