COLOMBO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka and India on Saturday agreed to create a joint working group to find a permanent solution to longstanding issues pertaining to fishing and fishermen between the two countries.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said that the agreement on the working group and its mandate was reached during talks held in India between government ministers of both countries.
Major objectives of the joint working group include expediting the transition towards ending bottom trawling, working out modalities for handing over apprehended fishermen and cooperation on patrolling.
The working group, which will meet every three months, should also ensure there would be no violence or loss of life when the navies or coast guards are involved.
Ministers for Fisheries from both countries will meet every six months starting from January 2017.
