New Delhi, August 14: India and Sri Lanka have worked out an arrangement for the protection of Indian fishermen, Prime Minister I K Gujral said in the Rajya Sabha today after members protested against the killing of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters. They demanded protection from the Indian Navy or the coastguards.

The issue was raised through a short notice question by Peter Alphonse (TMC) who said that 250 fishermen had been killed in the past five years. He asked what steps had been taken by the government to find out whether the culprits were the Sri Lankan army or the LTTE.

Gujral said in his reply that it was difficult to hold an inquiry since a war-like situation was prevailing in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had told India that government forces were not involved in the killings. ``We have recently worked out some arrangement for Indian fishermen to fish in certain areas,'' he added.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.