Question: Sir, could you confirm if there were any talks between Prime Minister Modi and Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa on the issue of sentencing of fishermen and their transfer to India?

Official Spokesperson: The issue of the five Indian fishermen who have been sentenced by a lower court in Sri Lanka is a matter on which we place very high priority. It is also a matter on which we are exploring a variety of avenues to ensure that those citizens of India return to India safely. These avenues are being pursued in accordance with the Sri Lankan legal system and the Sri Lankan Executive’s role in the process. At this stage we have not reached a conclusion on the avenues that we are proceeding forward with. 

It is a delicate matter. It is a matter which is ongoing and we are pursuing to the best of our abilities. Therefore, I would hate to tell you anything about a situation which is so delicate that it could adversely impinge on anything you or I say. That is where we are. I can confirm to you that we are pursuing it very diligently, we are pursuing all avenues, we are pursuing it to the best of our ability, and we have not reached a situation or a stage where we could say that this has reached a happy conclusion. Therefore, please provide us that time and space where we can pursue this and reach a conclusion that we can share with all of you for a happy ending to this difficult situation.


Question: Sir, I know it is very delicate and you are trying your best to sort of get somewhere. But since a tweet has already been made, just can you tell us one way or the other if Prime Minister spoke to the President of Sri Lanka?

Official Spokesperson: Shrinjoy, sometimes you ask me to respond to voices from the wilderness, sometimes you ask me to respond to tweets. If I have to respond to tweets, I have a twitter account and I would respond to that. I have just explained to you at length what the situation is. The situation does not warrant a tweet from me at this stage.


Question: Is the Indian High Commission appealing in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court regarding the fishermen’s issue today or tomorrow?

Official Spokesperson: I can tell you that the Indian High Commission has got the judgment from the Sri Lankan lower court. This judgment is more than 200 pages long. It is in Sinhalese. The lawyers are looking at it. The Indian High Commission has approached some of the best legal brains in Sri Lanka to have a look at it. And they are examining what would be the best avenue to proceed to ensure that those five Indian nationals who are fishermen and against whom a judgment has been decreed can be brought back home safely. As regards what is the best process, this is a work in progress. As I said to you, please give us that time. There is still time for an appeal and we will do everything possible to ensure the return of those five Indian fishermen in accordance with Sri Lanka’s legal and executive processes. 

Question: Sir, as we have already approached the Sri Lankan authorities about fishermen issue, what has been Sri Lanka’s response? Is it positive? Have they communicated anything to you? Are the signals positive?

Official Spokesperson: India and Sri Lanka have extremely cordial relations. We have a relationship where we are in regular touch with each other. We have a relationship in which both of us understand each other’s requirements, needs and concerns. Therefore, we understand each other well, we work well with each other. And you can be assured that any effort that we make with our good friends in Sri Lanka is always reciprocated positively.

If there are no more questions, we will call it a day. Thank you very much for being here this afternoon. Thank you. - See more at: