Sri Lanka denies shooting Indian fisherman

Jan 14, 2011, 8:59 GMT

Colombo - President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday categorically denied that the Sri Lankan Navy had shot at Indian fishermen, killing one of them, but vowed to take steps prevent such incidents in the future.

'The Navy says there was no such attack on the Indian fishermen. However I have called for a full report from the Navy about these reports,' Rajapaksa said.

He added discussions were under way to prevent any such incidents in future.

'We have had arrangements earlier but these will have to be revised given the new peaceful situation in Sri Lanka,' he said, referring to the end of the country's civil war last year. The Sri Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire on three Indian fishermen late Wednesday near the coast of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

'We have received reports of the death of an Indian fisherman due to firing by Sri Lankan Navy personnel,' India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

During the war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the government banned fishing in the seas off its the northern coast, traditional Tamil strongholds.

Rajapaksa said as fishing was permitted now there could be misunderstandings and conflicts between fishermen from Sri Lanka and India, whose shorelines are only 50 kilometres apart in places.

Sri Lanka's high commissioner in New Delhi, Prasad Kariyawasam, was summoned Thursday by the Indian government which expressed concerns about the reported incident.

Indian fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy clash frequently, amid Sri Lanka's complaints that the fishermen trespass into its waters.

Read more about India

Read more about SriLanka Diplomacy