Ahead of his visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that his September 14-16 trip is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
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The Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s Office said on Sunday that it was decided to release the fishermen in order to ensure that the strong friendship between India and Sri Lanka is maintained, said the Colombo Gazette.
A statement issued by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s office today says that the fishermen were taken into custody last week and considering the family background and health of some of the fishermen the decision to release them has been taken.
Wickremesinghe is expected to formally request for India’s support in Geneva during his visit that coincides with the commencement of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 30th session on Monday.
India expects to enter into bilateral agreements with each country on Orbit Frequency Coordination of the proposed satellite.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Minister of worldwide Trade and Investment Malik Samarawickreme denied reports that a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be discussed and signed during the visit. It said a fishing organisation in Tamil Nadu had made an appeal to the government to consider the medical condition of the arrested fishermen.
Wickremesinghe is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and President Pranab Mukhrjee.
In March, Modi visited Sri Lanka, the first by an Indian premier in 28 years, underscoring the desire to reset relations with the new Colombo administration.
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Ahead of his visit, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe told the press in Colombo that Parliamentarians would bring a “just” political conclusion to the ethnic issue, stressing: “We will implement the 13th amendment within a unitary state”.
