PM Modi meets Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya, discuses improvement, fishermen’s welfare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Sri Lankan counterpart, Harini Amarasuriya, at his official residence in New Delhi.

This was the primary go to of the Sri Lankan PM to India since she took workplace in September 2024.

After the conclusion of the assembly, the prime minister mentioned that the 2 heads of state disccused points starting from improvement cooperation and the welfare of Indian fishermen.

“Glad to welcome Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ms. Harini Amarasuriya. Our discussions coated a broad vary of areas, together with training, girls’s empowerment, innovation, improvement cooperation and welfare of our fishermen,” Modi mentioned in a put up on X.

“As shut neighbours, our cooperation holds immense significance for the prosperity of our two peoples in addition to the shared area,” he additionally added.

Assembly comes day after Stalin’s letter to Modi

This assembly comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Okay Stalin wrote a letter to the prime minister, urging him to take up the matter of welfare of Indian fishermen with the Sri Lankan prime minister.

“I’m writing close to the upcoming three-day go to of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to New Delhi, scheduled for 16-18th October, 2025. This go to presents a worthwhile alternative to handle the persistent challenges confronted by Indian fishermen within the conventional fishing waters of the Palk Bay and I urge you to lift these issues with the visiting Prime Minister,” the letter by Stalin mentioned.

“The fishing communities of Tamil Nadu proceed to face important hardships on account of recurring incidents of harassment, assaults, and apprehensions by the Sri Lankan Navy. Since 2021, 1482 fishermen and 198 fishing boats have been apprehended in 106 separate incidents, inflicting misery and financial loss to those communities,” it added.

“The Authorities of Tamil Nadu has constantly sought the intervention of the Authorities of India to handle these points by way of diplomatic channels. To this finish, I’ve raised this matter together with your workplace on eleven events and made seventy-two representations to the Hon’ble Minister for Exterior Affairs. In gentle of the truth that these incidents proceed to happen unabated, I request that the next crucial points could also be mentioned with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka through the go to,” the letter learn.

Stalin calls for retrieval of Katchatheevu Island

In his letter, the Tamil Nadu CM additionally demanded the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island, which the Centre had ceded to Sri Lanka with out taking the TN authorities’s consent.

“I request you to kindly use this chance to provoke dialogues with the visiting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island and likewise for the restoration of the normal fishing rights of our fishermen in Palk Bay space. That is due to this fact of utmost significance to resolve the longstanding and distressing points confronted by the fishing neighborhood,” added the letter.

76 fishermen, 242 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu stay in Sri Lankan custody

Stalin has additionally talked about in his letter that 76 fishermen and 242 fishing boats from TN are at present in Sri Lankan custody. He has requested the PM to provoke diplomatic efforts to resolve mentioned challenge.

“At the moment, 76 fishermen and 242 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu stay in Sri Lankan custody. I urge you to press for his or her immediate repatriation and the discharge of their vessels to alleviate the misery confronted by the affected households,” he mentioned within the letter.