Sri Lanka denies Indian fisherman was shot by Navy

The Sri Lankan Government expressed concern over the alleged shooting on Indian fishermen leading to the death of one of them and injury to another.
The Foreign Ministry in a statement said the safety of fishermen is of utmost importance and the Government of Sri Lanka is firm in its commitment to ensuring that all Government agencies treat all Indian fishermen in a humane manner at all times.
“Initial investigations indicate that the Sri Lanka Navy is not involved in this alleged incident’, the statement said.
‘Irrespective of the parties involved, if in fact a shooting has taken place, it is a matter of grave concern, and all possible action will be taken, in cooperation with the relevant Indian authorities, to investigate into this incident, utilizing GPS technology as well’, the statement added.
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Indian High Commission in Colombo said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has spoken to  the Indian High Commissioner over the incident.
‘He has said that if there was any truth about the circumstnaces of the incident an impartial inquiry will be held’, the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile Indian media report said that members from the fishermen community in Tamil Naud  came out in large numbers to protest against the alleged killing in Rameshwaram
 Rameswaram Fishermen Association President S Emiret  was quoted as saying they wouldn’t accept the body unless they get assurances from a central minister that such incidents wouldn’t repeat again.
 The fishermen have also demanded the arrest of the Lankan navy personnel involved in the incident, he added. Party workers belonging to the Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi climbed a cellphone tower in protest.
The incident came as Indian fishermen poaching in the Sri Lankan waters in the north continued last week with the arrest of at least 26 Indian fishermen.