Gota to visit Delhi for talks this week

Monday, 28 October 2013 01:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is likely to visit New Delhi this week for talks with the Indian Government on bilateral security matters including the Tamil Nadu fishermen issue, diplomatic sources confirmed. The visit was in the process of being finalised, the sources said. It will be the top Defence official’s first visit to New Delhi in years. The Indian Government has remarked to the media that it will take up the issue of Indian fishermen

languishing in Sri Lankan jails during his visit to New Delhi. 32 fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been detained at the Trincomalee prison since 30 July this year. Indian media quoted the country’s Union Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy as saying New Delhi would hold detailed discussions with the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary during his visit to the country later this week. “The Union government will hold a detailed discussion with Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during his visit to New Delhi later this week. We are looking for a permanent solution to the problems faced by Indian fishermen,” he said, adding, the Indian government would also stress for the immediate release of 32 fishermen along with their boats. The fishing issue has been a hot-button one in relations between New Delhi and Colombo, with the External Affairs Ministry summoning Indian High Commissioner to Colombo Y.K. Sinha over the matter last week. The Defence Secretary earlier this year said the fishing issue was straining otherwise sound ties between the two countries. In April this year, Secretary Rajapaksa also said India had to take responsibility for a 30 year war in Sri Lanka.