India, Lanka for coordinated patrolling of Palk Straits

India and Sri Lanka are considering undertaking coordinated patrolling along the Palk Straits to check any incidents of firing and illegal activities in the area, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said today.

Briefing reporters on the day-long proceedings of the 28th SAARC Council of Ministers of the Foreign Ministers of member countries here, Mr Menon said the matter was raised by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at his bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday.

''Sri Lanka suggested coordinated patrolling in Palk Straits. We have not come to any conclusion yet. But this is one of the things we are considering,'' he said.

Mr Menon said the developing situation in the island nation came up for discussion during the meeting.

The External Affairs Minister reiterated India's commitment to and support for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.

Mr Mukherjee also raised the issue of the incidents of firing on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy. However, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister denied the charge and said that when the incident took place, Sri Lankan navy was nowhere near the spot.

Both agreed that steps should be taken to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

UNI Team/RB RP ND1844

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