Ceaseless efforts of Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma

As a result of the ceaseless efforts of Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, second round of fishermen level talks between representatives of Tamil Nadu and Srilanka to be held on May 12th and 13th. As a result of the ceaseless efforts of Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, the second level of talks between the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka will take place on the 12th and 13th of May 2014. A letter has been written by Tamil Nadu to the Government of India in this regard. According to the letter, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 20th of September last year proposing fishermen level talks between fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. As a follow up to this, the fishermen level talks were held in Chennai on the 1st of January this year. In reply to the centre’s letter on the 28th of february 2014, it was conveyed by Tamil Nadu on the 2nd of March 2014 that the next round of talks between Tamil Nadu fishermen and fishermen from Sri Lanka may be held at Colombo on May 13th 2014. It was categorically stated in the above letter that the talks may be held subject to the release of the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats in Sri Lankan custody. Further, on March 11th 2014, it was pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Government had not received any information regarding the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats in Sri Lankan custody. It was reiterated that the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats in Sri Lankan custody will have to be released prior to the talks to enable the talks to take place. As on date due to the persistent efforts taken on the directions of Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, 98 fishermen of Tamil Nadu and their 23 boats have been released by the Sri Lankan authorities. All of them have been repatriated also. In the letter dated 11.04.2014, it was indicated that the Sri Lankan side was in a position to organize the next round of fishermen level talks on the 12th and 13th of May 2014 in Colombo. Following this, the Tamil Nadu Government in its reply, had requested the centre to convey to the Sri Lankan side that the meeting of the fishermen could be hosted in Colombo on the 12th and 13th of May 2014. The list of fishermen from Tamil Nadu will be the same as those who participated in the talks held on the 27th of January 2014 which includes a delegate from Puducherry. The agenda for the proposed talks has already been communicated to the centre in a letter dated 02.03.2014, the letter said, adding that the delegation will be accompanied by the following officials to observe the proceedings. Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and fisheries department. Director of fisheries. Additional Director of fisheries, it said.