Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Sri Lankan counterpart Harini Amarasuriya at his official residence in New Delhi on Friday.
This was the first visit by a Sri Lankan Prime Minister to India since she assumed office in September 2024.
After the meeting, the Prime Minister said the two heads of state discussed issues ranging from development cooperation to the welfare of Indian fishermen.
“I am pleased to welcome the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Harini Amarasuriya. Our discussions covered a wide range of areas including education, women’s empowerment, innovation, development cooperation and the welfare of our fishermen,” Modi said in a post on X.
“As close neighbors, our cooperation is of immense importance for the prosperity of our two nations and the shared region,” he added.
The meeting comes a day after Stalin’s letter to Modi
The meeting comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to take up the welfare of Indian fishermen with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister.
“I am writing with reference to the upcoming three-day visit of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to New Delhi, scheduled for October 16-18, 2025. This visit presents a valuable opportunity to address the ongoing problems faced by Indian fishermen in the traditional fishing waters of Palk Bay and I urge you to convey these concerns to the visiting Prime Minister,” Stalin said in the letter.
“The fishing communities of Tamil Nadu continue to face considerable hardship due to repeated incidents of harassment, attacks and arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy. Since 2021, 1,482 fishermen and 198 fishing boats have been detained in 106 separate incidents, causing distress and economic loss to these communities,” he added.
“The Government of Tamil Nadu has consistently sought the intervention of the Government of India to resolve these issues through diplomatic channels. To this end, I have brought this matter to the attention of your office on eleven occasions and made 72 representations to the Honorable Minister of External Affairs. In view of the fact that these incidents are still not happening, I request that the following critical issues be discussed with the visiting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka,” it said letters.
Stalin demands the acquisition of the island of Katchatheevu
In his letter, the Tamil Nadu CM also demanded the acquisition of Katchatheevu Island, which the Center had ceded to Sri Lanka without obtaining the approval of the TN government.
“I request you to kindly use this opportunity to open a dialogue with the visiting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on the reclaiming of Katchatheevu Island as well as the restoration of the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen in the Palk Bay area. This is therefore of the utmost importance to resolve the long-standing and vexing issues faced by the fishing community,” the letter added.
76 fishermen, 242 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu remain in custody in Sri Lanka
Stalin also mentioned in his letter that 76 fishermen and 242 fishing boats from TN are currently in custody in Sri Lanka. He asked the Prime Minister to initiate diplomatic efforts to resolve the said issue.
“At present, 76 fishermen and 242 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu remain in custody in Sri Lanka. I urge you to press for their speedy repatriation and release of their vessels to alleviate the suffering faced by the affected families,” he said in the letter.
