Talks between the governments of Sri Lanka and India over the issue of fishing around the Palk Straits this week ended without conclusion after Sri Lanka rejected India's proposals to allow Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters three times a week.

Tamil Nadu's demands on Sri Lanka to return the fishing boats impounded by authorities were also rejected.

“They came up with an MoU and wanted to pursue the matters which we discussed in the 2012 Joint Working Committee. Our representatives told them that it was not necessary,” Fisheries Minister Rajitha Dr. Senaratne was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying.

"There would be no change in the Sri Lankan policy not to release Indian boats in Sri Lankan custody," he reportedly added.

The District Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Coastal Fishermen’s Association told the New Indian Express:

“The actual proceedings of the meeting are being kept under wraps, with the press release saying nothing. But we hear that the issue of the release of boats created a deadlock."

"The sea was common to both the fishing communities. It was our traditional fishing ground. And after all, both of us are Tamils,”

“Crossing the IMBL became a problem for us only after the war broke out in Sri Lanka after 1983 and the Lankan navy started killing intruders.

“We have lost over 500 lives and suffered damage running into millions. After the end of the war, the issue of Lankan fishermen wanting to fish came up, and the Lankan government started arresting those who crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)." See more here.

Tamil Nadu’s Fisheries Secretary S Vijayakumar, speaking at the beginning of the talks, reiterated the state’s “firm commitment” to the restoration of traditional fishing rights of Tamil fishermen, including fishing unhindered in the Palk Strait.

The Government of India should not treat the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka as settled, since the constitutional validity previous agreements have been challenged on “extremely valid and legal grounds” by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Supreme Court of India, he said according to The New Indian Express.

The Indian delegation was led by Dr Raja Sekar Vundru, Joint Fisheries Secretary, and Sri Lanka was led by Nimal Hettiarachchi, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Agricultural Resources.

See our earlier posts:

Government will not let Indians fish in Lankan waters – Minister (24 August 2014)

Indian Prime Minister to discuss solution to fishermen issue (20 August 2014)

38 Indian fishermen arrested (22 July 2014)

SL navy arrest 39 Tamil Nadu fishermen (16 July 2014)

Jaya urges Modi to secure release of 64 fishermen arrest by SL navy (25 June 2014) 

Jayalalithaa slams renewed fishermen arrests by Sri Lanka (19 June 2014) 

India committed to 'permanent solution' over fishermen arrests(16 June 2014) 

Sri Lanka releases fishermen as Jaya calls for 'strong response'(09 June 2014)

Sri Lankan Navy arrests dozens of Indian fishermen (08 June 2014)

Sri Lanka releases Tamil Nadu fishermen amidst condemnation form Jayalalithaa (05 June 2014)

Jaya urges Modi to take 'strong and robust' response to fishermen arrest (01 Jun 2014)