New Delhi, January 28
With the killings of two Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan maritime waters yet again becoming an emotive issue in the election-bound Tamil Nadu, the government is rushing Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to Colombo to impress on the Lankan authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that that such incidents don’t recur.

Rao will leave here on Sunday and hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders on Monday, senior Indian officials said today.

Reflecting the political sensitivities in Tamil Nadu, India has already reacted very strongly to the two incidents of killings of Indian fishermen during this month. The Sri Lankan Navy has, however, claimed that it was not involved in the killings.

The officials acknowledged that such incidents had become a ‘complicating factor’ in Indo-Lankan relations but hoped the two countries could find an amicable solution to the issue.

“We have a joint working group (JWG) on the issue which has not officially met since 2006. We hope the JWG can meet soon and address the issue satisfactorily,” they added.