Indian and Sri Lankan officials will begin talks before the month-end on the issue of repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees here, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.

Briefing newspersons after a meeting between the visiting Sri Lanka External Affairs Minister, Mangala Samaraweera and Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi, the spokesman said the two sides also agreed that the fishermen’s associations from the two countries should meet.

“At the meeting, it was decided to find an early date and location for the fishermen’s associations to meet,” he said.

Probably in an indication of the importance that the new Sri Lankan government attaches to India, this is Samaraweera’s first international visit and comes within five days of his taking over as the External Affairs Minister.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister also informed the Indian side that his government was working on a modus operandi for the return Indian fishermen’s boats that are now in Sri Lanka

Currently, there are about 87 Indian boats in Sri Lanka.

“Both countries feel that a long-term solution needs to be worked out taking into consideration all aspects of the matter. But as an interim approach we feel this issue needs to be dealt with in a humane manner taking into account the livelihood of fishermen on both sides,” the spokesman added.

Swaraj has also accepted an invitation to visit Sri Lanka, which was extended during the talks, the spokesman said, adding that during her visit the next round of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission will be held.

The visiting dignitary also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Sri Lanka at the earliest.

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