Sri Lanka releases 14 Indian fishermen after PM Modi's push for 'humane approach' to tackle issue

Notably, there have been alleged previous instances of Sri Lankan Navy personnel using force against Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water which separates Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka.

Here's what Foreign Secretary said on fishermen issue

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing on Saturday that the fishermen issue featured in the PM Modi-Dissanayake talks. 

"As the prime minister said himself during his remarks, there was an emphasis on the need to adopt a humanitarian and constructive approach to cooperation on these issues because these are ultimately issues that impact the livelihood of fishermen on both sides of the Palk Bay," he said.

"The prime minister emphasised that at the end of the day, it is a daily issue for the fishermen and that certain actions that have been taken in recent times could be reconsidered," Misri added.

India, Sri Lanka to intensify institutional discussion on fishermen issue

Misri also underscored that New Delhi and Colombo agreed on the need to intensify the institutional discussions on the issue. 

In his statement following PM Modi's talks with Dissanayake, the Foreign Secretary said that India and Sri Lanka are in "touch with each other on the possibility of convening the next round of fishermen's association talks". 

(With inputs from PTI)