Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Sri Lankan counterpart Harini Amarasuriya at his official residence in New Delhi. This was the first visit of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister to India since she assumed office in September 2024. After the meeting, the Prime Minister said that the two heads of state discussed issues ranging from development cooperation and the welfare of Indian fishermen. “Happy to welcome the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ms. Harini Amarasuriya. Our discussions covered a wide range of areas including education, women empowerment, innovation, development cooperation and welfare of our fishermen,” Modi said in a post on X. “As close neighbors, our cooperation is of great importance for the prosperity of our two people regions,” he also added. Meeting comes day after Stalin’s letter to Modi This 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 16-18 October 2025. This visit provides a valuable opportunity to address the persistent challenges faced by Indian fishermen in the traditional fishing waters of the Palk Bay and I appeal to you to raise these concerns,” Stalin’s prime ministerial letter said. “The fishing communities of Tamil Nadu continue to face significant hardship due to repeated incidents of harassment, attacks and detentions by the Sri Lankan Navy. Since 2021, 1482 fishermen and 198 fishing boats have been apprehended in 106 separate incidents, causing this distress and economic loss,” it added. “The Government of Tamil Nadu has consistently sought the intervention of the Government of India to address these issues through diplomatic channels. To this end, I have raised this matter with your office on eleven occasions and made seventy-two representations to the Honorable Minister of External Affairs. In view of the unabated occurrence of these incidents, I request that the following critical issues may be discussed with the Prime Minister during Sri Lanka become visit,” the letter reads. Stalin demands recovery of Katchatheevu Island In his letter, the Tamil Nadu CM also demanded the recovery of Katchatheevu Island, which the Center had ceded to Sri Lanka without taking the TN government’s consent. “I request you to kindly use this opportunity to initiate discussions with the visiting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the recovery of Katchatheevu Island and also for the restoration of the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen in Palk Bay area. It is therefore of 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 Sri Lankan custody Stalin also mentioned in his letter that 76 fishermen and 242 fishing boats from TN are currently in Sri Lankan custody. He asked the Prime Minister to initiate diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue. “At present, 76 fishermen and 242 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu remain in Sri Lankan custody. I appeal to you to press for their speedy repatriation and the release of their vessels to alleviate the distress faced by the affected families,” he said in the letter.
PM Modi meets Sri Lankan Harinni Amarasuriya, discusses development, fishermen welfare
