Full-scale probe under way, Lankan President tells Ansari

Ansari raised the issue during a bilateral meeting with Srisena in Jakarta on Tuesday on the side-lines of the Summit of Indian Ocean Rim Association. “Yes, it was discussed,” the Vice President had said when asked whether the killing of the Tamil fisherman allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy figured in his meeting with Srisena. 

Ansari, during his interaction with the accompanying media persons while returning from Jakarta after a two-day visit on Tuesday night, said, “The President said he had heard about it on Wednes-day morning and that he had spoken to the Chief of the Sri Lankan Navy who had said that no such incident from the side of the Sri Lankan forces took place.” He said Sirisena told him that he has ordered “full investigation” into the matter.

Sources told that the Vice President had candidly conveyed to Srisena that something must be done by Sri Lanka about the recurring problem related to the Tamil fishermen as part of confidence-building measures. Nearly, 76 Indian fishermen are in captivity of Sri Lanka.